The Examiner U-46 News Feed

U-46 tax levy amount set for formal board approval

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 is set to formally adopt the largest property tax levy allowed under the law at its upcoming meeting on Monday, Dec. 12.
  The board was presented with the certificate of tax levy and accompanying resolution at its Nov. 21 meeting. The board already approved the determination of tax levy and accompanying resolution on Nov. 7 which is required to be approved before the official tax levy vote.
  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 board will also vote on a resolution on Dec. 12 to add a hazardous transportation area designation to its current list. The area is used for the district to receive state reimbursements for transportation of students who normally are considered walkers, within 1.5 miles of the school, but there’s a dangerous crossing.
  There are currently 48 areas designated hazardous with the proposed 49th being at Elgin’s Channing Elementary School for walking along South Channing Street and Villa Street.
  Marcy Murphy, director of transportation, said the designation is needed due to Elgin’s Garfield Elementary School, that is closing at the end of this school year, for students who will be going to Channing next year.