When I was running for trustee two years ago, I discovered all of the areas of Lombard that are unincorporated. These areas do not benefit from the Helen Plum Library services without paying their tax assessment. Unlike residents, anyone who comes to the library to get a library card from an unincorporated area has to pay the tax in one lump sum at the time they want to get their kid a book and it has to be in the form of a check because that is how the current law is written. WHAT??

Residents pay their taxes in two allotments and many people break that down into 12 month installments in an escrow account. I wanted to make the non resident fee easier to pay so that families in unincorporated areas were able to make multiple payments for this service as residents do. 

Why is this important? It brings more of Lombard into the Library - a community hub and it is a revenue bonus for the library. 

I, along with Trustee Julie Kowalski-Schmidt approached State Representative  Terra Costa Howard and State Senator Laura Ellman for assistance in changing the old legislation. The Illinois House bill sponsored by Reps. Terra Costa Howard and Diane Blaire-Sherlock will allow libraries to determine the number of payments allowed for a non resident library card, thus making it easier for families in unincorporated areas to afford to pay into for the library benefits. This bill has passed the House and has moved to the Senate. Our Senator and Co Sponsor, Laura Ellman has been through committee once and has a second committee reading on May 6.

Please call your Senator and urge them to pass this bill! Use this tool to find your Senator's information: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/maps/illinois-senate/ then call and say: "My name is ___________ and I live in __(town)__. It is important for everyone in Illinois be able to use the services at the library and I urge Senator ______ to vote yes on HB42 so people in unincorporated areas will be able to make multiple payments for their library tax. Thank you." It is that simple!