More than 50 people packed into a large meeting room at the Niles Public Library Wednesday night for a public hearing on a proposed $800,000 property tax levy increase.
A dozen individuals — all Niles residents — who spoke at the hearing urged the board to reverse course on their decision to increase the property tax levy by slightly more than 13 percent over last year.
A far cry from the handful of residents usually in attendance at Niles Library Board meetings, the massive audience necessitated officials move the meeting into a larger room on the library’s first floor.
Before members of the public weighed in on the proposed levy, Library Board of Trustees President Linda Ryan reiterated the opinion held by the majority of the board: The levy increase is necessary because such an increase would not be possible next year under state law, and without a substantial bump in tax revenue, the library’s coffers will run into the red in a few years time.
Ryan highlighted the $1 million decrease in the levy in 2013 and a further $220,000 decrease last year. She also noted the library’s upcoming strategic planning process, which may ultimately call for expanded services, and a need to work with the north end of the district, which includes unincorporated areas of Des Plaines and Glenview, to offer fair access to library resources for all district residents, not just those in Niles.
Of the board’s seven members, only trustees Carolyn Drblik and Danette Matyas disagreed with the decision to increase the levy from the just under $6 million request the board filed last year to nearly $6.8 million in 2015. Ryan said the increase would add about $37 to the average district residents’ annual tax bill.
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Residents who attended the meeting voiced their opinions on the proposed tax levy increase in response to the board’s explanations.
“Every dime coming out of the local economy hurts our local economy,” said David Carrabotta. He said the board had no plan for what would be done with the additional revenue.
“When I see this board, you guys are the poster child of what’s wrong with government,” said Bob Zalesny.
Many of the comments asked officials to find a way to seek more out of their current resources rather than approve a tax increase.
“It’s not about $37, it’s about doing the right thing,” said Andrew Beierwaltes. “It’s about doing more with less, thats what we have to learn to do in all of our governments in Illinois.”
“Maybe we need to do something,” said Dale Zilligen, a Niles Township High School District 219 employee. “More people need to stand up, because the government in all branches is on a runaway.”
Jack Achille, the last to offer his comments during the public hearing, commended Ryan’s explanation for why the majority of the board felt the levy increase was necessary, but it wasn’t enough to ease his concerns.
“It sounds great, but it always sounds great,” he said. “The government is in my pocket and everybody’s pockets all the time.”
The board is due to vote on the 2015 property tax levy at a meeting slated for Nov. 30.
Lee V. Gaines is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.