The La Grange Village Board formally passed the Village’s property tax levy Monday, but not before continuing the discussion that began at the last Board meeting when the original proposal was discussed and modified.
The final levy reflects a 4.5 % increase over last year’s levy, less than the 5 % allowable by the State of Illinois’s Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL).
The effect on the homeowner with a house estimated market value of $515,000 will be an estimated annual increase of $144.10 from the Village levy and $38.71 from the Library levy.
When the original proposal was debated at the last meeting, the combined levy for the Village and Library reflected $207.46 for a full 5 % levy
“Every year we abate these taxes, and don’t raise our taxes to the max, is putting us that much further behind in raising money to pay for all of our flooding and litigation,” Trustee Glenn Thompson said, stressing the need to provide funds for projects for streets, sewers, and flooding projects.
Beth Augustine was also uneasy with levying for less than the full 5 %.
“I understand why we considered not taking the full amount for the levy last year even though I wasn’t solidly behind it,” Trustee Beth Augustine said. “And I certainly wasn’t solid behind it this year.”
After Augustine and Thompson spoke against the 4.5 % increase, the matter was removed from the consent agenda and the debate continued.
Library Board President Katie Allen echoed Augustine and Thompson in expressing concern about not taking the full levy.
“Traditionally, it’s my understanding that we made our levy request in line with the Village, so we follow suit in going along with the 4.5 %,” she said. “But we’re very cognizant of the fact that we’re leaving money on the table. We have many capital improvements that we would love to be able to direct those moneys to. We have a beautiful building, but it is nearing its 20-year mark and we have a lot of wear and tear and maintenance to keep it looking as beautiful as it was in 2007 when it was built.”
Trustee Lou Gale spoke of the frustration of many homeowners with the size of their property tax levies.
“We will try to keep downward pressure on it,” he said. “I certainly appreciate the Library’s statements and the others here … if we don’t take the full amount, it is less, but I think it’s important here to tell the residents that we’re going to try to keep that downward pressure.”
But Augustine wasn’t persuaded.
“This village does a very good job of applying for grants, controlling costs, and finding savings where we can, but I don’t just don’t see this is an area we should be looking at year after year because it compounds … with our costs going up in every sector, it’s not something to dismiss lightly. It’s just not an area that we should look at to save taxpayers a few dollars.”
Glenn Thompson agreed.
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“It’s always tough to raise taxes, but we’re trying to negotiate deals with MWRD (Metropolitan Water Reclamation District) on a 50-50 basis, we hope,” he said, stressing again that levying for a smaller amount would mean the Village might have to out to a referendum to fund infrastructure projects.
In the end, Trustees Gale, Peggy Peterson, Tim O’Brien, Shawana McGee voted for the levy, with Augustine and Thompson turning thumbs-down.
As the next scheduled La Grange Village Board meeting would fall on Christmas Day, it has been rescheduled to 7:30 p.m., Jan. 8 at the La Grange Village Hall, 53 S. La Grange Road.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.