LTHS Tax Hike Means Millions More

LA GRANGE, IL – A 5 percent increase in the property tax levy is expected to bring $4.2 million more for Lyons Township High School this fiscal year.

And the school is projecting to get $5 million more than usual from a state tax on corporations.

At the same time, salaries are expected to rise 6.2 percent and benefits 11 percent from the previous fiscal year. The benefit increases are mainly driven by health insurance, according to the school.

At Monday's school board meeting, Brian Stachacz, the school's director of business services, presented the tentative budget for this fiscal year. The board is set to vote on it in September.

According to the documents, the school's total fund balance is expected to rise to $58.7 million by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, up from $57.4 million a year earlier.

Last year, board members questioned why the school needed a fund balance higher than $50 million.

In November, the board agreed to hike this year's property tax levy by 5 percent, the maximum increase allowed under state law. Like other schools, the board decided to go to the limit because of surging inflation.