The Examiner U-46 News Feed

U-46 formally approves district’s tax levy amount

By Seth Hancock
  With no discussion, the Board of Education in School District U-46 took the first steps in hiking its property tax levy by the maximum allowed under the law at its Monday, Nov. 7.
  The board voted 7-0 on a resolution and determination of tax levy. The determination is required to be approved at least 20 days prior to the actual levy vote which is slated to occur on Dec. 12.
  The total levy, including the corporate/special purpose levy and debt service levy, is set to rise by 5.6 percent from $330.7 million to $349.3 million. That is above the 5 percent the district is limited to without a voter referendum, but it is a defensive levy with the district expecting $345.3 million.
  The defensive levy is used because U-46 believes the “District is entitled,” the determination states, to every dollar it legally can obtain from taxpayers.
  “Since the equalized assessed valuation (EAV) of property and new construction numbers are unknown, it is a common practice to establish a defensive levy,” the proposal states. “This means levies are set higher than what is actually expected to be received. County [clerks] will reduce levies to the maximum legal amounts.”
  The defensive levy effects the corporate/special use levy which is set to rise 6.3 percent from the 2021 extension, from 298.3 million to $317.2 million. However, the district is expecting to receive $313.2 million from that levy, a 5 percent increase.
  The debt service levy is set to decrease 1.2 percent, from $32.4 million to $32.1 million.
  The only comment was from board member Kate Thommes who thanked the district for “answering our, it feels like a thousand questions. It’s appreciated and noticed.”
    No questions were asked by the board during its regular meetings on Nov. 7 or Oct. 24, when the levy was presented. Sue Kerr, the board’s president, said on Oct. 24 that a finance committee meeting was held that day.