The New Trier High School board has approved an initial increase in the property tax levy for next year, in one of a series of financial actions.
At its Oct. 21st meeting, the District 203 board passed the tentative tax levy for next year. Officials are estimating an increase of roughly 3.4 percent for existing property tax owners on the school district’s portion of the property tax bill.
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Under the complex Cook County taxing rules, the exact amount of the levy increase won’t be determined until the amount of new property within the district is known, which is not expected until June 2025.
The additional funds will be used for the school district to fund rising expenses, particularly in special education, as well as other costs that are rising higher than the consumer price index. Those include transportation, energy and certain instructional supplies, Associate Superintendent Christopher Johnson said.
New Trier High School represents 25-26% of the overall property tax bill in the communities composing New Trier Township including Wilmette, Winnetka and Glencoe, Johnson noted. The high school district traditionally takes the second largest chunk of the property tax bill, with the local elementary school district as the largest portion.
“Our community makes a significant investment in New Trier,” school board president Jean Hahn said. “The fact that we so rarely hear complaints other than mild griping around taxes is a testament to the return on investment we feel we receive.”
School board passage of the final levy is expected in November.
In separate action, the school board approved the sale of $25 million in alternate revenue bonds primarily for improving portions of the Winnetka campus constructed in the 1930s and 1950s, including rebuilding science labs and support spaces, Johnson noted.
“These areas were not renovated during previous construction projects,” Johnson said.
The school board also approved the sale of $10 million in bonds for plumbing and heating at both the Winnetka and Northfield campuses.
However, Johnson said these types of bonds do not directly impact taxpayers.
“The bond sale for the alternate revenue bonds does not increase the community’s annual tax burden beyond the annual tax levy,” he said.