“It’s time to demand straight answers on what we’re worth.”

“I applaud the governor’s action today in signing this legislation and taking a real step forward in the fight for pay equity in Illinois,” Lightford said. “A culture of secrecy around wages has been to the detriment of women and people of color, who remain underpaid for the same work in comparison with their peers. It’s time to demand straight answers on what we’re worth.”

Gov. Pritzker signed Lightford’s bill, Senate Bill 203, the first legislation to receive his signature as governor. The new law protects worker wages and promotes diversity in employment by state contractors. Additionally, it requires the disclosure of data on employee demographics and pay among businesses which contract with the State of Illinois.

First African-American woman appointed to the position

SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) was named Senate Majority Leader with the start of the 101st General Assembly this week.

Lightford previously served as Assistant Majority Leader since 2009 and is celebrating 20 years of public service in the Illinois Senate. She is also the first African-American woman to hold this position.

“It is an honor to take on the role of Majority Leader and an exciting time to serve,” Lightford said. “The possibilities of what we can accomplish for the people of Illinois in the next four years are steadfast and immense.”

The Senate Majority Leader is entrusted by the Senate President to work with caucus members on policy issues and help advise them on legislative agendas.

Lightford represents a portion of the West Side of Chicago and parts of the Western Suburbs.

To help homeowners who have mail-delivery problems, cookcountytreasurer.com now shows when tax bills have been returned by the U.S. Postal Service, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today.

“Property owners who don’t receive their tax bills often face interest charges for late payments and even see their properties go up for sale for delinquent taxes,” Pappas said. “It’s an unnecessary waste of time and money, and it’s unfair.”

A team in the Treasurer’s Office has reduced the number of properties with incorrect mailing addresses to 63,500, down from 86,200 two years ago.

To see if your tax bills have been returned, visit cookcountytreasurer.com and:

• Select the purple box, “Your Property Tax Overview”
• Enter your address or Property Index Number (PIN)
• Look for a red warning box that pops up if your bills have been returned
• Update your mailing information if it is incorrect
• Choose “eBilling” if you wish to receive your bill by email

Cook County Treasurer's Office - 12/14/2018

With prescription prices and utility bills rising faster than Social Security payments, a tax-relief program can help senior citizens who are hard-pressed to pay their property taxes, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today.

Seniors whose annual household income is $55,000 or less can apply to the Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferral Program for loans to cover property tax payments.

“When property taxes are due, too many of our elderly are forced to make difficult choices about which bills to pay,” Pappas said. “This program is one way to ease their worries.”

The State of Illinois issues the loans, which do not have to be repaid until the property is sold or the homeowner dies. An interest rate of 6 percent per year is charged by the state. The maximum loan is $5,000 per year. To qualify, homeowners must be at least 65 years old by June 1 of the year in which the application is made.

To apply:

• Download the application from cookcountytreasurer.com
• Submit the completed application and copies of the required documents to the Treasurer’s Office
• The deadline is March 1, 2019. Applications after that date cannot be accepted
• Homeowners must reapply every year