Rosemont residents may apply for tax grants

Rosemont homeowners may again apply for property grants of up to $3,465 in 2012, village officials said.

This is the 17th year Rosemont has offered the grants. The amount per household has grown each year.

“Because of good governance and positive business development here, we’re able to make things a little easier for our homeowners,” Mayor Brad Stephens said in a news release. “We put our residents first in Rosemont. The taxpayers are the boss and they come first.”

Grants are calculated using the first $70,000 of equalized assessed value of a home excluding exemptions, or the actual equalized value less exemptions, whichever is less.

The maximum grant residents can receive this year is $3,464, up from $3,060 last year and $2,992 the previous year.

A majority of the grant is based on the amount paid in property taxes to the village and the elementary school district. The grants are intended to help with repairs and maintenance, but homeowners can spend the money as they see fit.

Residents must apply for the grants and pay income tax on any money received. Grants are only available to owner-occupied households that provide proof of payment for property taxes. The second installment tax bill must show the homeowner exemption.

Applications are available at Rosemont Village Hall and park district offices. The deadline to apply is Oct. 31, 2012. Checks are paid to homeowners within 30 days of completing their applications. Last year, homeowners received more than $1 million through the program, and over the past 17 years, they have received about $12 million.