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Dist. 211 opens talks on 2015 tax levy

Before an audience that included a few of Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211's tax watchdogs, district administrators Wednesday started from scratch in explaining how the upcoming property tax levy will impact residents' property tax bills.

"I want to make sure everyone has the same foundational fund of knowledge," Superintendent Dan Cates said.

Chief Operating Officer Lauren Hummel and Controller Barbara Peterson explained to the school board the five factors that control the amount of a property tax bill. They said taxing bodies like District 211 are responsible for only one factor - tax rates.

Other factors like property values, the assessment level per classification, the state equalization factor in Cook County and the availability of exemptions are overseen by higher governmental authorities, they said.

By way of demonstration, they chose a $250,000 house in Hoffman Estates as an average property in the district. While a 1 percent increase in District 211's levy would add $21.89 to that homeowner's tax bill, an improvement adding $10,000 to the house's value would by add $87.56 to the amount due District 211 and $315.50 to the total property tax bill.

The levy is calculated by adding the district's operational costs and its amount of debt to be repaid, then dividing that proportionately among the property value of the district.

A tax cap limits how much can be added onto operational costs each year. The cap is determined by adding the rate of inflation to the percentage of new properties in the district.

Administrators provided a series of variables and scenarios for the levy to the board, but did not yet recommend any particular combination Wednesday.

The board is expected to discuss those options at meetings on Oct. 15, Nov. 4 and Nov. 12. A levy amount to be determined on Nov. 12 will be formally adopted on Dec. 10.

Resident Len Green of Palatine said he thought the presentation was informative, but argued that the district has been levying excessive surpluses in recent years that make a levy increase this year unnecessary.

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