Carol Stream delays library tax levy talk

A property tax levy requested by the Carol Stream Public Library is on hold for at least two weeks after the village board chose to table the decision at Monday's meeting.

The move will allow Village Manager Joe Breinig to research whether the request exceeds the tax cap, which is determined by the consumer price index and the village's anticipated new growth.

By law, if a request by the library does not exceed that cap, the village must approve the levy.

If it does exceed the tax cap, however, the village has the authority to reduce the levy request. The library's request would increase the levy by about 1.5 percent, or $51,736.70.

"I don't mind that they tabled it for another two weeks," Library Director Ann Kennedy said. "We understand that the village is also under some pressure from the public. We'll work with what they vote for us."

Library Trustee Mike Wade attended the meeting hoping to stop approval of the increase.

He said the library's cash reserves of more than $4.6 million meant the levy increase was not needed.

"I feel it's totally unnecessary and an unfair burden on the taxpayers," he said during a public hearing.

Because Carol Stream does not levy a municipal property tax, researching expected new growth will be more difficult, Breinig said. But the village has until December to decide on a total levy.

Several trustees voiced frustration at having to go through this process each year. Trustee Rick Geiser said he hoped the library could become its own separate taxing body in the future.

As of now, the library must come to the village each year to request the levy.

"I am a big user of the library and don't have any ill will toward them. I love the library," Geiser said. "But they shouldn't have to come, hat-in-hand, every year and ask us to do this."

Trustee Pam Fenner said delaying a decision on the tax levy had nothing to do with the amount of the library's request as much as it had to do with the village board serving its function.

"We have to do our job, our due diligence," she said. "And our job is to make sure the library does not exceed the tax cap."