Highland Park Property Tax Increases Likely To Match Inflation

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Taxing bodies in Highland Park have set tax levies for the coming year, but local taxpayers can't be certain how much their property tax bills will change until the end of this year's reassessment process. Assuming the relative assessed value of their homes remain relatively unchanged, Highland Park homeowners should expect property tax increases of close to the rate of inflation, Pioneer Press reported.

About two thirds of Highland Park property tax bills go to North Shore School District 112 (38 percent) and Township High School District 113 (29 percent), according to the city's website. The school boards' and park district's tax increases for existing taxpayers are capped at 1.9 percent this year based on last year's Consumer Price Index. The index was up 2.1 percent in the last 12 months ending in November, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced Wednesday.

The assistant superintendent of District 113 told Pioneer Press the estimated increase of the high schools' share would be $62 for the owners of a home valued at $600,000. The elementary school district's share should be proportionately higher.

Meanwhile, the Highland Park City Council voted to increase its levy by 2.5 percent, indicating the city and library's share of the owner of a $500,000 home's property tax bill will increase by $114, according to Highland Park News. The city and library combine for about 10 percent of local bills.

On the other hand, the Lake County board kept its levy flat this year, which will reduce its 8 percent share of local property tax bills. Other taxing bodies that comprise smaller portions of Highland Park residents' property tax bills include College of Lake County with 3.6 percent, Lake County Forest Preserve — which also reduced its levy — with 2.3 percent, the North Shore Reclamation District with 2 percent, Moraine Township with 0.7 percent and the Southlake Mosquito Abatement District with 0.15 percent.

According to the Lake Count assessor's office, the assessment roll has been published and the appeal filing deadline has passed but the findings have not yet been mailed. Assessments can still be appealed to the state's Property Tax Appeal Board.

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