Center Cass Taxes May Rise By Nearly 25%

DARIEN, IL — Residents in Center Cass School District 66 could see their property tax bills rise by hundreds of dollars if voters approve the increase.

Under a district proposal, taxes for a $300,000 house would go up by $500 to $550 a year, depending on a number of factors. That would amount to a hike in property taxes of nearly 25 percent.

The increase would bring in $3 million more a year.

The school board is expected to decide next month on whether to go to voters. The referendum would be June 28.

The district, which includes parts of Darien and Downers Grove, says its tax rate is lower than most elementary school districts in DuPage County. Even with the tax hike under consideration, its rate would still remain in the bottom half, according to the district.

The tax hike would not involve going into debt for building projects. The increase would raise the cap for taxes in the district. The money can go for any school purpose, said Andrew Wise, the district's superintendent.

"The board spent down the reserves trying to keep the educational quality for our kids," Wise said in an interview. "We're at a point where we cannot keep the quality at the highest level. District 66 is a district known for its excellence. We want to keep that excellence at the highest level, but we're running out of money."

To make ends meet, Wise said, the district has cut the number of teachers, teacher's aides and counselors, Wise said. It is also planning to increase class sizes, he said.

He also said the district is seeing no applicants for jobs.

"We can't get teachers or paraprofessionals or bus drivers," Wise said. "If our existing people leave, we'll have a hard time replacing them. In DuPage County, our average salary is under the average. We'll need the community's support. Kids really need this right now."

The district's architects and engineers have identified $10 million worth of work needed in the district over the next decade to stay in compliance with code. Most of that work would be at Lakeview Junior High, Wise said.

If the referendum passes, he said, the school could use part of the money for school building projects. No new referendum would be needed for that work, he said.

Darien Alderman Eric Gustafson, who attended this week's school board meeting, opposed such an increase in taxes.

"It's extremely expensive," he said in an interview. "About 15 percent of the homes in the district are retirees. It'll be extremely difficult for them to come up with the money. It's a permanent increase. I've talked to two of my neighbors who are retirees. They are about ready to move."

Wise said he would continue to hold community meetings about the proposal. And he said residents are free to contact him.

The district serves about 1,100 students.