Hinsdale Seeks $500K More From Taxpayers

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale officials are proposing to hike the property tax levy for the village and library by $513,000 next year, to $12.7 million.

Much of that increase can be attributed to increases in the village's expected contributions to the police and fire pension accounts.

The village is planning to spend $460,000 more in property taxes next year on the two pension systems. That brings the total property tax contributions to $2.8 million.

The village said the pension contributions were determined by an actuary.

"This (levy) increase is basically just covering costs as they go up," Village President Tom Cauley said at Tuesday's Village Board meeting. "We're basically keeping our head above water. We're not making these increases by spending money frivolously. This money is needed to cover pension obligations, which are imposed by the state."

The board is expected to vote on the new levy later this year.

Last year, the village increased its property tax levy by 5 percent, the limit under state law. That brought the village and library more than $600,000 over the previous year.

The village and library combined make up a small part of the local property tax bill, about 10 percent. Local schools take up nearly 80 percent.

According to the state comptroller's website, Hinsdale's police and fire pension systems are 52 percent and 54 percent funded, respectively.