La Grange Wants $366K More From Taxpayers

LA GRANGE, IL — The La Grange Village Board is poised to ask for $366,000 more from property taxpayers next year.

That works out to an increase of $23 for every man, woman and child in La Grange. The total tax levy next year is set for $10.1 million, or $675 per person. Of course, property taxes don't work that way. They're assessed on property. The added taxes work out to an additional $32 for a $500,000 house, according to the village.

The hike was largely blamed on the recommended increase in the village's contributions to the police and fire pension funds.

Next year's contribution is set at $3.3 million. That was a $300,000 increase over the previous year, which was nearly double what the village was expecting, officials said. Such hikes are common for municipalities around the state.

At Monday's La Grange Village Board meeting, Trustee Michael Kotynek said the increase in pension costs was "pretty eye-opening."

"You look at the next five or 10 years, these numbers are not sustainable. It has to be number one on our priorities," Kotynek said. "The more it goes up, that takes away from the operations of the village."

Trustee Bill Holder said the village continues to operate from a "conservative fiscal stance."

In a unanimous vote, the Village Board gave preliminary approval for the tax levy.