Elmhurst D205 Ponders Reducing Taxes

ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst School District 205 board this week considered scaling back the debt portion of its property tax levy.

A year ago, the board majority decided against doing so, citing overruns in school construction projects.

At the time, member Jim Collins was the only one to support a tax decrease – a process known as "abatement." Board members Courtenae Trautmann and Karen Stuefen were absent. In an earlier meeting, though, Stuefen indicated she favored a reduction, while Trautmann expressed reservations.

On Tuesday, board members expressed a desire for a tax cut this time around, as the April election approaches.

The district's administration gave the board three options – no tax reduction and smaller and larger tax cuts ($28 or $51 for the owner of a $500,000 house).

The district's debt payments this year amount to $16.4 million, which officials said is the peak. Under abatement, the district can reduce debt-related property taxes and tap into other sources, such as bank accounts, for the remainder.

"The board has been incredibly financially responsible, and we owe that to our taxpayers," said Trautmann, who is seeking another term. "In my opinion, abatement is the way to give tax relief to our taxpayers, and that's why I want to have this discussion every year."

Member Beth Hossler, another candidate, agreed. She said it was important to keep the debt part of the tax levy flat.

Collins and member Chris Kocinski said they preferred a tax cut that would exceed the $51 for a $500,000 house that the administration presented as an option.

"It's taxpayer-friendly," Collins said.

Whelton said that if the board chose the larger tax cut, it may end up with tax bills "slingshotting" up and down.

"It's the one drawback of abatement," he said. "You could end up with spiking up and inconsistent tax bills to taxpayers."

The board took no vote. It must decide by the end of February.