Naperville Park District’s proposed budget for next year calls for a property tax increase as the district works to balance rising costs. If approved, the average homeowner would pay an increase of about $17 more in taxes to the park district. For a home value assessed at $515,000, the increase would hike the park district’s portion of the property tax bill to about $458.
The park district is budgeting a 3.9% levy increase that includes all capped and non-capped funds.
Consistent with past years, the park district represents about 5% of a resident’s overall property tax bill. Money from the levy, which supports more than half of the district’s overall budget for next year, would go towards funding operational and capital expenses, ADA improvements, inclusion services and debt service.
“Whenever we talk about the impact to a homeowner or how much a homeowner will pay, it is important to keep in mind this is only an estimate and the tax bills for our residents will vary based on the assessed value of their home,” said Naperville Park District Finance Director Tricia Dubiel.
The proposed 2026 budget totals around $55.2 million, which includes $37.5 million set aside for day to day operations, $14 million for capital improvement projects and $3.7 million for debt obligations. The levy increase will total around $30 million, a 5% increase over last year’s extension, Naperville Park District Commission President Leslie Ruffing said at the Nov. 13 Board of Commissioners meeting.
“Our team continues to see cost increases for many of the basic supplies and contractual services we use in our organization,” Dubiel said.
For example, compared to 2025, the cost of flowers and plants has risen by 8%. Park supplies such as paint, salt, garbage bags and gloves are seeing an average increase of 5%. Janitorial supply costs are seeing a 4% to 10% increase. Health insurance benefits are also up by 11% while business and liability insurance is seeing an average increase of 12%.
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“As we incorporate these increasing costs into the 2026 budget, which are outpacing the allowable growth for the property tax levy, our team continues to find ways to do things more efficiently and manage costs within the operating budget,” Dubiel said, citing examples like adding a new insurance plan option for park district employees.
Program fees are another significant funding source for the park district, making up about 29% of the 2026 budget. Some of those programs are expected to see fee increases next year as the district tries to cover costs while maintaining affordability for residents.
“It is a balance and in this budget, some examples of the increases in programs include gymnastics, day camps and preschool as well as other activities where the district is experiencing increased costs,” Dubiel said.
Gymnastics will see an increase of $1 to $3 per session. Day camp is budgeted to increase $9 per week, which translates to about $1.80 per camp day. Preschool is expected to increase to $2 to $4 per day, according to Naperville Park District Executive Director Brad Wilson.
Fees at Centennial Beach and Fort Hill Activity Center are expected to remain the same for next year. At Springbrook and Naperbrook golf courses, private lessons alongside select greens and ranges are expected to see fee increases. Junior golfers and family golf prices are expected to remain the same.
For the capital improvements side of the budget, park district staff have identified over 160 capital improvement projects for next year, said Eric Shutes, director of planning for the park district.
Among the priorities in that list are playground renovations for Apache Park, Burr Oak, Fox Hill Greens, Knoch Park, Queensbury Greens, Springhill Park and Wil-O-Way Park. Continued work on the permeable paver parking lot installation and site improvements at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots are also on the list for next year.
Consistent with last year, participation in park district programming remained strong throughout 2025, Wilson said.
“We’re estimating that we will renew about 61,000 program registrants that register for the various programs,” Wilson said, noting that the number excludes those who participate in drop-in activities as well as special events that occur throughout the year.
Springbrook and Naperbrook golf courses are also projected to see 93,000 rounds of golf played at the courses by the end of the year – on track to tie the record from last year.
At Fort Hill Activity Center, demand remains high and membership continues to grow.
“Since opening this facility in 2016 and then coming out of the pandemic, we have seen tremendous growth with this facility,” Wilson said. “Over 9,000 Fort Hill fitness members are now part of the facility. When we look at comparison to 2024, we’re seeing fitness center use that’s up by 19%, personal training up by 28%.”
Compared to last year, group exercise at the facility is also up by 13% and track use is up by 23%.
The Naperville Park District will approve the tax levy in December.