Dupage Policy Journal

The Elmhurst District 205 School Board voted to accept the final version of the district's 2022 property tax levy during a hearing on Dec. 13.

Chris Welton, assistant superintendent of finance and operations, gave a presentation on the final tax levy to the board, which voted to approve the levy so the district can submit its levy request to the county before the deadline at the end of the year. 

The district will receive an extension based on its request, which will be determined by the county assessor by the end of March 2023, Welton added. Property taxes are collected in two rounds, first in June and then in September. Welton also explained that the district has among the lowest operating expenses on a per-student basis compared to other, similar districts.

"You can see that we have the second lowest operating expense per pupil when we compare to our comparable unit districts," he said. "After factoring in the top-rated Illinois high school districts to the chart, Elmhurst is still the second lowest. Additionally, we know from the administrative cost per pupil ranking from the 2021 annual financial report data that Elmhurst 205 is ranked fourth lowest out of 381-unit school districts and administrative costs per pupil. The result of this is that we provide a great value to the Elmhurst community and we are striving to continue to elevate our students' success."

The district will be limited to a 5% request for increase over last year since the consumer price index (CPI) is above 5%, Welton added. 

However, new taxable construction is exempt from the tax cap, so the district has estimated new construction costs and added them to the 5%. With a total request of a 7.34% tax increase, the district was required by law to hold a public hearing before passing the levy.

With no further comment from the public, the board passed the proposed levy, with only board member Jim Collins speaking and voting against the levy.

The district had enough funds to "give taxpayers a break this year," Collins said.