Another Property Tax Abatement Approved by District 146 Board

At its regular March meeting, the District 146 Board of Education unanimously approved two resolutions authorizing about $3.6 million in property tax abatements. The abatements are part of the Property Tax Relief Grant (PTRG).

The District qualified for and was approved to take part in the PTRG twice. The program stipulates that participating school districts must abate property taxes for two years in exchange for a permanent increase in State funding.

The District was required to abate property taxes in the amount of $1.7 million for two years as part of the first grant. These abatements were reflected in the 2021 and 2022 property tax bills paid in 2022 and 2023. The second grant, covering the 2022 and 2023 tax bills paid in 2023 and 2024 requires an abatement in the amount of $1.9 million for each tax year.

Jeff Charleston, Director of Business Services, explained that following the abatements, the District will receive additional state funding for each grant. The first grant adds $1 million in additional state funding, while the second grant will provide an additional $1.2 million. The extra funding will continue even after the two-year abatements expire.

The most recent abatement is the fifth approved in three years. The Board of Education first abated $1 million in property taxes during tax year 2020, which was reflected in the tax bills paid during 2021.

“Our Board of Education continues to be fiscally responsible on behalf of the District’s taxpayers so we can take advantage of opportunities like this,” said Dr. Jeff Stawick, Superintendent. “Our Business Department worked hard to assure we received the PTRG grant twice. The abatements help our families while the additional state funding will benefit the District throughout the future.”

An abatement is a form of a property tax reduction where the District accepts less money than it is entitled to under the property tax system. An abatement does not necessarily mean taxes for every resident will decrease, it simply means District 146 will receive less money from property taxes than it would otherwise.

Community Consolidated School District 146 is comprised of Central Middle School, Fierke Education Center, Fulton School, Kruse Education Center, and Memorial School. Students from Tinley Park, Orland Park, and Oak Forest attend District 146 schools.