Why the annual exemption applications?

I just completed my annual Cook County 2012 Senior Citizen Exemption Application, and I don’t understand why state legislators revised the law requiring this be filed annually. I always thought the old saying “you ain’t getting any younger” was true, but maybe Springfield knows something else.

Maybe they thought this was a way to ensure deceased seniors don’t get the exemption (not that some unscrupulous heir might not forge a signature). But more likely they think the postage and extra staff in the Cook County assessor’s office to process them would improve the economy and prevent fraud. Now I don’t know much about anything so maybe someone can clue me in on why this is necessary? Heaven knows our legislators don’t have anything more pressing to work on, like pension reform.

Joe Celosky

Hoffman Estates