Elmhurst D205 Tax Hike 'Messes' With Tradition: Official

ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst school board this week decided to increase next year's property tax levy to the maximum under state law, despite a warning against doing so from one of its members.

"I just want to remind everyone that a low tax rate is a good thing, and it's a long tradition in Elmhurst," member Jim Collins said before the vote. "I don't want to be part of a board that messes that up."

The Elmhurst District 205 board voted 5-1 to increase the tax levy by 5 percent. It was able to do so because of an inflation rate above 7 percent. The board took a preliminary vote last month in favor of the 5 percent levy.

The majority was made up of members Kara Caforio, Athena Arvanitis, Courtenae Trautmann, Chris Koncinski and Beth Hosler. Collins dissented.

Member Karen Stuefen, who has aligned before with Collins on tax issues, was absent. She also was gone from last month's meeting when the board took the first vote.

In his comments, Collins said with the 5 percent hike, school property taxes will have gone up 11.5 percent in two years. With inflation remaining high, he said, the district may be able to increase its levy by 5 percent for 2024 and 2025.

"That's what taxes people out of their houses, particularly people on fixed incomes," he said. "We accumulated $45 million over 10 years when inflation was 1.95 percent (on average). Imagine what we're going to accumulate over the next four years with a series of 5 percent increases."

After he finished speaking, some audience members applauded, with a man yelling, "Thank God somebody has a brain and knows how to use it!"

Arvanitis said she wanted to meet with Collins outside a board session and figure out where he was getting his percentages. She said she has not seen her taxes rise in the way Collins described.

"I feel like I'm missing a piece of information," she said.

Collins said he would be happy to meet with her. He noted final tax bills are based on how township assessors value homes relative to others.

Kocinski said the board could reduce the levy through a process known as "abatement" early next year.

He also said the district has used some of its money for construction projects, some of which were expanded in scope.

"I think that has added value in the areas where we've recently opened buildings," Kocinski said. "They've been quite well received."

Hosler said the district, like other public bodies, was in an unprecedented time with labor shortages and increases in costs for bus services and construction, among other things.