Good Return On Elmhurst D205 Tax Hikes: Officials
ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst School District 205 is seeking nearly $7.5 million more in property taxes next year, with school board members saying the district’s money has been well spent.
On Tuesday, the school board set the levy at $158.5 million, increasing the levy to the maximum allowed under state law.
By the district’s estimate, the owner of a $500,000 house should see a property tax increase of $245.
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Under state law, a public body can increase its property tax levy by the rate of inflation up to 5 percent.
As of December 2023 – when the inflation rate is gauged for tax purposes – it was 3.4 percent.
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Board member Kara Caforio said residents are getting a good return on their investment.
As an example, she said, a local house bought for $815,000 in 2008 would sell for $1.4 million now. That’s a gain of nearly $600,000 in value, far outpacing the total of $215,000 in property taxes over the years, she said.
She noted the increase in district staff while enrollment has been flat.
“Our community values neighborhood schools. Neighborhood schools require additional staff because you have enrollment that fluctuates over time in neighborhoods,” Caforio said.
In the last decade, the district has reduced average class sizes, she said.
“We’re seeing some of that investment in our test scores and the achievement of our students,” Caforio said.
Over the last few years, the district has seen big cost hikes for buses and health insurance. And it has 260 more students with disabilities than it did in 2019, and they need more support, Caforio said.
Board member Athena Arvanitis said a dropping fund balance was one reason for the property tax hike. The balance has fallen because of debt payments for expanded school-building projects.
The board, she said, has raised the levy to the limit every year for the last decade.
“We’re seeing the needle move in the lower grades and hoping to see that work pay off in the high school very soon,” she said.
The board voted unanimously for the property tax levy increase. Nearly 90 percent of the district’s income comes from property taxes.
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