They say that nothing is surer than death and taxes. If you are reading this, you have successfully avoided one of the two and only have to deal with taxes. The "blue card" assessment notices recently arrived in Lake County, raising the usual questions about assessments and why they are increasing.

To help shed light on the subject, State Senator Susan Garrett and I are hosting a meeting Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Highland Park Police Station, 1677 Old Deerfield Road, Highland Park. Moraine Township Tax Assessor, Pete Koukos, and Chief County Assessment Officer, Marty Paulson, will be on hand to describe the assessment process and answer questions.

Marty will explain how the equalization of assessed values is performed and what it means. Pete and Marty will also address the "tax cap" law and how taxing districts get their funds, what the assessed value relationship is to market values and how they apply a uniform method of assessing real property.

There are several key points to remember about property taxes: 1. Property taxes go to local governmental bodies such as schools, park districts, and municipalities for police and fire protection, not to the state. 2. The increase in assessment does not mean your taxes will go up by the same percentage. The assessment is just one part of a complex formula. 3. The Equalized Assessed Valuation is not the same as the price an appraiser would set on your home. Assessed values are a way for the property tax burden to be appropriately distributed over all of the properties in a township.

Please share this information with any of your neighbors who may be interested. Susan Garrett and I held a similar meeting in Cook County and the residents found it helpful.

I am very encouraged by what happened in Springfield while I was there this past month. (Part time job? No way.) It seems to be the beginning of the end of gridlock in Springfield. Last week, the Senate concurred with the House Ethics Bill and also concurred in the funding for reinstatement programs for the developmentally disabled and substance abuse.

We also appropriated the funds to keep open the 11 state parks and historic sites that the governor was planning to shutter. Thanks to all of you who communicated with me on the importance of these programs.

The Senate also overwhelmingly overrode the Governor's Amendatory Vetoes, which many people think overreached his constitutional authority. One of these bills was the Uninsured Hospital Discount Pricing Act, a bill I had worked on for three years with Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office and coordinated with the Illinois Hospital Association. The Chicago Tribune editorialized in favor of an override in the amendatory veto, a feat Sen. Jeff Schoenberg and I accomplished with unanimous votes.

I did support the Governor in one important amendatory veto: to provide insurance coverage for autism treatment and therapy. Both chambers had overwhelmingly passed legislation to provide the needed support for families struggling to pay out of pocket for the necessary help for their autistic children. Because this legislation is gridlocked, I stood up with the 29 legislators to vote to make it law without waiting another day. It is just too important an issue for affected families. I also personally appealed to Speaker Madigan to write the rules for the underlying autism legislation and thereby end the impasse on the issue.

It is no secret that we have all been frustrated with the difficulties we have had getting bills signed and implementing the legislative efforts we have been making over these many past months. Things are looking positive as we move towards the veto session in the fall.

Come to my legislative office on Thursday, October 23 to see if you need a new configuration of your Medicare Part D prescription drug plan due to upcoming changes to the program for 2009. AgeOptions, a suburban county area agency on aging will be providing personalized help from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

According to Kerry Weems, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, "Some [Medicare] beneficiaries may see significant premium increases or changes, such as reduced coverage in the gap, if they stay in the same prescription drug plan in 2009. We encourage individual beneficiaries to review how their plans are changing and what other options are available to them to determine which plan best meets their needs." Open enrollment for prescription drug coverage begins November 15 and ends December 31. Plan changes by current beneficiaries must also be made by December 31.

Medicare participants are encouraged to bring their current Medicare prescription drug plan information and list of medications to the meeting so that issues specific to their individual needs can be addressed. Counselors will be able to provide information about and help with: Medicare prescription drug plan changes, Medicare prescription drug questions, low income subsidies, Illinois Cares Prescription/Circuit Breaker programs and Medicare savings programs.

Navigating Medicare Part D prescription plans can be challenging, particularly with changes to the program. Please stop by to take advantage of this important opportunity. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP by phone or email to my office by October 16 to let me know if you will be attending.

email: karenmay58@aol.com

phone: (847) 433-9100

web: http://www.repkarenmay.org