Can La Grange Force Library On Tax Levy?

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange trustees agreed on Monday to increase the village's property tax levy by 4 percent next year.

Some of them wanted that applied to the La Grange Public Library's tax levy.

Both the village staff and the library board each recommended raising their levies by 5 percent, the maximum allowed under state law.

During a debate, village Trustee Lou Gale asked whether La Grange's tax levy would apply to the library.

"Are they stuck with whatever we do?" he said.

Trustee Michael Kotynek said the tax levy would be across the board.

Gale responded, "I thought that was the case."

Later, though, the village's finance director, Lou Cipparrone, questioned whether the Village Board had the power to change the library board's levy.

"The library's levy goes through the village because they don't have the authority," Cipparrone said, adding the village should look into the issue.

Kotynek said if the village is going to be at 4 percent, so should the library.

"I don't think they should be carved out at a higher percentage," Kotynek said. "They need to have the same approach to these austerity measures."

The village attorney asked the trustees to allow research on the issue. The Village Board agreed.

The library's proposed property tax levy is $2.8 million.

The library's interim executive director did not return a call for comment Tuesday.