Elmhurst D205 Tax Hike 'Rubber-Stamped': Candidate

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst resident Tom Chavez attracted attention in 2021 and 2022 with his allegation during school board meetings that local schools were pushing "critical race theory."

Since last year, he has pointed out falling test scores in the local district.

On Tuesday, he spoke to the school board for the first time on financial issues. He focused on the Elmhurst School District 205 board's decision last month to raise the property tax levy by 5 percent, the maximum allowed under state law.

Chavez, a school board candidate in April's election, pointed out that two of his opponents, incumbents Courtenae Trautmann and Beth Hosler, joined the majority in supporting the increase.

He said the members "rubber-stamped" the administration's recommendation for the increase. Only member Jim Collins voted against it; member Karen Stuefen was absent.

Chavez said the district has made equity a "center of gravity for its education platform." But he said the school board did not take into account the effects on the "most vulnerable."

"Using 40-year-high inflation as a reason for a maximum tax increase is short-sighted," Chavez said. "It shows little regard for the lower-income or middle-class residents in our community."

He said economic conditions were making things difficult for such residents.

"Housing in Elmhurst has become less affordable, mostly to the most vulnerable people in our community," Chavez said. "Young families aren't going to come here because the average home price is beyond reach."

School board members did not respond to Chavez's comments. School board policy bars them from immediately responding to public comments.