Naperville Park District proposes lower tax rate

Naperville's park district board has proposed a modest decrease in the property tax rate for the coming year.

However, because of increases in property values, most property owners will likely pay more if the proposed tax rate is finalized.

The district's current tax rate is a little more than 25 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value. The proposed rate is exactly 25 cents. The board voted 6-1 to approve the preliminary rate at Thursday's meeting.

That means the owner of a $400,000 house paid about $329 for the park district's portion of their residential property tax bill last year. With an average property value spike in Naperville of 8 percent this year, that same house would seemingly be assessed at $432,000 now. That means the homeowner would pay about $347 to the park district next year.

Property taxes are the chief revenue generator for the district. The district expects to collect more than $17.1 million next year. This year, property taxes generated a little more than $16 million.

The park board will meet at 6 p.m. Nov. 15 to go over next year's budget and likely come up with a final tax rate figure that would be approved before the district's fiscal year starts Jan. 1.

"Our tax rate has continued to decrease year to year," said Mindy Munn, the district's interim executive director.

Commissioner Ron Ory was the lone vote against approving the preliminary tax rate. He complained that without discussion of next year's budget, the board shouldn't be setting the rate.

"My concern is the same as last year and that we're levying taxes before we discuss the use," he said. "We're out of sequence on this and it's premature to be creating a levy at this time."

The district is required to report an expected tax rate to DuPage and Will counties, but can report a lower rate before the fiscal year kicks in. District officials said the proposed rate is essentially a starting point.

District staff also updated the board on the executive director search at Thursday's meeting. The district's search firm reported 69 applications have been received since the opening was posted months ago. That includes 22 applications submitted to the district before the search firm was hired. The application process ends Nov. 16, Munn said. The board has planned to interview finalists over the Dec. 15-16 weekend.