Austerity and prudent stewardship in government is never popular and remarkable in it's almost universal absence at county, state and federal levels, Yet, while the county founders in red ink, the state is overwhelmed by unpaid bills and the Federal government apparatchiks saddle our great-great grandchildren with crushing debt, the leaders of Morton Grove deliver a surplus in a recessionary/depressionary economy.

...REMARKABLE!

Here are several items the Village Trustees might consider to raise 2012 revenues.
1. Eliminate (or reduce) the senior citizen discount for vehicle stickers. Seniors are not necessarily more needy than non-seniors (some are and some are not) and a car is a car no matter who owns it.
2. Charge residents (or raise charges) for parking permits on "restricted parking" streets. Folks want privileges on public streets and should pay for this. This would make them think twice before asking for more restrictions on streets as we already have too many. Many residents have garages and still want street parking restricted.
3. Carefully consider special taxes on certain businesses (amusements and storage locker facilities). We need to make sure the tax does not drive the business (existing or potential) away. Whether imposed on the business or the customer, it may a disincentive. See what other communities do first in this respect.
Respectfully submitted because I know tax and spend priorities are very difficult to mange these days for any governemtal entity.

I am thrilled that we have $91,000 left over from the almost $57 million budget, does that mean we get some of the $300,000 tax levy back? Also, if our village trustees are reading this, please be aware that we do have a responsibility to our seniors, many of whom are on fixed income. Please do not look there to find tax money.
As far as taxing those living on streets with parking restrictions, I live on a street with those restrictions, which were put in place due to an issue with safety concerns for emergency access. I did not ask for the parking restrictions, nor do I profit from them. So please do not look at taxing people there. I think it would be helpful to the trustees if all residents gave their input for the next budget, even if your work or home schedule does not allow you to attend the monthly meetings, the trustees are all available via email through the village website. Getting involved in the process is the best way to affect the outcome.

Laura, If seniors can afford gas and insurance they can afford FULL PRICE. Plates are NOT discounted by the State. I do agree, however, that zoned street parking should NOT be taxed.

Seniors do receive a discount from the State of Illinois through the Circuit Breaker
Program.

All this talk about eliminating senior benefits only relects the thoughts of certain residents that seniors don't need any special assistance. Most of them are living on
Social Security and need assistance like vehicle sticker reductions. A car in today's world is not a luxury, but a necessity.

Mr. Dubren, There are MANY seniors in my neighborhood with brand NEW vehicles. My 80-year-old father makes more from investments, SS & 2 pensions than I do. I work part-time and can barely meet my obligations. Perhaps the Village should be collecting fees on a sliding scale? If there are seniors in this village needing assistance, I have not come across them. All senior discounts should be eliminated, that goes for water, too. My age group (boomers) are struggling the most in this economy.

I don't think your personal experiences are close to the reality of the status of seniors in MG. I can believe there are seniors that are well off, but also understand that there are many who are scraping by on their Social Security. The water discounts are going away. The senior bus is no longer running. There is not much left to take away.
Perhaps there should be a cut off amount of income above which seniors do not qualify for the measily benefits they still can get. MG is not going to fix the economic
woes on the backs of the lower income seniors.

The seniors HAD plenty of time to prepare for their futures. Social Security was NOT meant to be one's sole source of income. As stated previously, why not sliding scale for ALL. My medical expenses are all out-of-pocket, and that ridiculous Coast-to-CoastRX that the Township boasts about cover VIAGRA BUT NOT MY ASTHMA INHALER. If the benefits are so measly, then they shouldn't mind not having them.

I think seniors had other priorities years back, like putting food on the table, etc. Many of them lived through a depression (I hope you know what that was). Unfortunately, Social Security is the main source of some familie's income. Problem is that there has been no COLA increases of those payments in recent times, and Medicare increases have swallowed up many of the past increases.

If your yearly income is less than about 20k, you can qualify for Illinois Cares Rx. This program will pay for most drugs with your copayment of $2.50. The more expensive drugs are also very much reduced in cost. If you are talking about Maine Township, when I approached them years ago for drug payment assistance, their requirements were too strict and they wanted too much personal information.

You are so uniformed Mr. Dubren. Yes, I know about the depression and my grandparents survived and even thrived. My grandmother lived til she was 98 and left us with a very nice sum of inheritance. None of the so-called prescription programs (NONE) pay for Albuterol Inhaler--please look that up on ALL program sites--they do however pay for VIAGRA. Guessing an erection is more important than breathing. I made less than $10k & receive NO GOVERNMENT help. I am talking about Niles Township, you know....the one we're in. Please, visit that website and become informed. COLA hasn't gone up? Got news for you....many of us WORKING people have not had a pay increase either; and we're expected to produce more with less people.

Interesting thing about Social Security COLA. When the cost of living (with the complicated formula used) goes up, so does the SS check. But when the cost of living declines, the SS check does not go down and stays the same, but that issue is not raised by anyone. Surprise! And I am sure we will next hear how many things seniors use is not correctly represented by the COLA calculation. But retired seniors use some COLA items less. No cost of going to work, less work clothes, lunches at home not dining out, ability to get discounts at movies, etc.

Karen,
You are fortunate in having had a well to do grandmother. My parents had to scrape to send me and my brother to state universities. You should be aware that not every senior in MG is well off.

Actually, I live in Main Township, along with a lot of other Morton Grover's who live west of Harlem. We call it the West Side of town.

I suggest you check with AARP who handles the Medicare Rx Plan for the State of Illinois. They have helped me with some very expensive medicines, so I don't know why they would hold back on the Albuterol Inhaler.

Wonder if Tony is planning to skip old age somehow. I have news for him. Unless he meets an untimely demise, he will someday be a senior. I suggest he starts to save up now because we probably will see all senior assistance vanish in the future. Seniors pay more for health insurance, which is climbing out of sight. They share in the same burdens as others for things like home heating and AC. The small COLA increase for 2012 will probably be wiped out by a corresponding increase in Medicare
fees.

I will bet the bank that Tony is a Republican. The lines on COLA are pretty much defined by which political party is commenting.

Sherwin, the Coast2Coast Rx program is open TO ALL, not just Niles Township. Forgive me for assuming that you were in said Township. I do know seniors that are struggling, just not in MG and I also see WHY they are. Seems to me, when money is tight, one makes adjustments. One senior I know personally, has done nothing but spend money on JUNK. No savings, no nothing..but eats out regularly and buys nonessential crap for her apartment (knick knacks). I also know sacrifice, my deceased mother used to sew her own clothes (mine also until about age 10) and we got by on 1 income (my father didn't want my mother working until we were in HS).
Your generation is the "spoiled" generation, expecting (entitlement) others to support you. There will be nothing left for us boomers (and later generations) if this attitude doesn't change. Are you aware that today's senior can eat their way to obesity and have MEDICARE pay for gastric bypass?
Your side of town (West MG) managed to get rid of MG's cash cow, namely ABT.

My brother took a big hit in '09, seeing his salary cut in half yet his bills and mortgage remained the same (he also lives in MG).

This dialog could go on forever with no resolution.

Seymour,
I am a senior! But I consider the needs of society and not narrow self interest. Try it. Maybe all your other assumptions are equally flawed!
Tony

Karen,
Where did you get the idea that the West End people were responsible for losing ABT? The negotiations were handled by the Action Party, who are made up of residents from all parts of MG.

Tuni,
Well, you seem to have all the answers. We don't have to worry about low income people and those out of work. They are just showing self interest with their problems.
Let them take care of themselves and quit bugging the rest of us.