Northbrook Raises Property Tax Levy By Over 17 Percent

NORTHBROOK, IL — The Northbrook Village Board voted unanimously Tuesday to hike the property tax levy by 17.36 percent in order to cover for last year's "one-time infusion" to its police and fire pension funds. The increase — from $15.53 million to $18.22 million – will raise local taxes by $145.02 every year on the average home if the board doesn't reduce it before March, according to a finance department memo.

Last year, the board transferred more than $1.5 million from its general fund to its pension fund in order to lower the tax levy. This year, the board is paying it back, plus an increase of nearly $621,000 based on a legally required actuarial evaluation. That brings the increase to $2.13 million.

Nearly $6.4 million of the levy will be devoted to payments for police and fire pensions, according to the document trustees adopted. There was a legally required public hearing, but no one showed up to talk about it. It was opened and closed without comment.

Deputy Village Manager Jeff Rowitz said property taxes could still be lowered during a budget workshop in the spring.

“If there’s any further abatements to any of the other pieces, we’ll discuss that when we get to the budget in March,” Rowitz said, according to the Northbrook Star.

According to the memo, village staff met with President Sandy Frum and Trustee Kathryn Ciesla to discuss how to structure the levy. Board members at a Nov. 14 finance committee meeting agreed and directed finance department staff to draw up the analysis below.

_{Top photo: Northbrook Village President Sandra E. Frum | via Village of Northbrook}