HUNTLEY — Following a public hearing at the Dec. 21 Huntley Community School District 158 (D158) Board of Education (BOE) meeting, board members agreed in a vote of 7-0, to adopt the 2023 tax levy.
According to the district’s Director of Communications and Public Engagement Denise Barr, the requested aggregate amount of total property taxes to be levied for 2023 totals over $80 million, which reflects a 5% increase over the extension in 2022.
Under the Illinois Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), increases in property tax extensions are limited to the lesser of 5% or the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the previous year. The CPI for the 2022 calendar year was 6.5%.
Tax levy requests are based on projected operating expenses, estimated property values (Equalized Assessed Value or EAV, which is determined by the counties), and local projected revenue from new construction.
D158 states that the 2023 tax levy request reflects current rising costs due to inflation, an estimated EAV increase of approximately 10.8%, and estimated new construction valued at approximately $24.3 million.
On a positive note, the district’s tax rate of approximately 4.30 (per $100) is down from last year’s rate of 4.47 and remains low when compared with other benchmark and unit districts in McHenry County and the surrounding area.
Based on the 2023 tax levy request original estimates, the owner of a home valued at $200,000, with the increase in the Homestead Exemption from $6,000 to $8,000 and no increase in property value (EAV), could see a tax increase of approximately $99.
To offset the burden on taxpayers, the BOE will be discussing a possible abatement of debt to lessen the impact of the 5% inflationary increase at the upcoming Jan. 18 board meeting.
D158 receives approximately 60% of its operating revenue from local tax dollars, according to district officials. Property taxes enable a school district to meet current financial obligations and plan for future needs.
The money school districts receive from annual property tax levies assists in funding salaries and benefits per collective bargaining agreements; helps with routine maintenance and improvements to aging facilities; provides educational programming and strategic planning initiatives; and alleviates overall operating costs.
D158 states that it maintains one of the lowest operational costs per student in McHenry County.
“Creating a culture of operational efficiency continues to be a focal point of the district’s strategic plan. The district’s operational efficiencies range from HVAC improvements and electrical upgrades to energy savings through environmental initiatives and other cost-cutting measures,” said Barr in a press release statement.
For an update on D158 strategic plan initiatives that pertain to operational efficiency, visit the D158 website for the board meeting presentation that occurred on Dec. 7, 2023.
“We are committed to our mission of providing a quality education for all students always and appreciate the support from our community,” said interim Superintendent Jessica Lombard. “We take our role as financial stewards seriously and will continue to look for ways to streamline and reduce our expenses to offset the cost to our taxpayers. It is our goal to maintain Huntley’s reputation as a destination school district and a desirable place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Individuals may also find more information about the 2023 tax levy by searching for the tax levy presentation documents that were presented at the Dec. 21, 2023 BOE meeting.
