Dist. 211 hikes tax levy

Officials at Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 are proud of the way it's softened the blow of property tax increases in recent years.

With little discussion, the board at Thursday's meeting unanimously adopted the 2009 property tax levy. It's a .6 percent increase from 2008, going from $193.6 million to $194.8 million, a $1.2 million difference. The board actually held a public hearing on the tax levy, which no one participated in. State law only requires taxing bodies to hold public hearings on the levy if it rises more than 5 percent from the past year.

District officials on Thursday took another opportunity to tout the district's abatement strategy, which began in 2007. District 211 has been dipping into its working cash funds, applying that money toward loans it owes, reducing its debt service levy. From 2007 to 2009 the district has used $3 million per year from the working cash fund, which reduces the overall property tax levy by $9 million. This year the district is upping the abatement amount to $5 million.

"The taxpayers will obviously benefit from that," Superintendent Nancy Robb said.

District 211 has about $47.1 million in debt from the 2006 bond issue that helped save many of the district's extracurricular programs, as District 211's budget plunged into the red. The money from the bonds also helped pay for districtwide building renovations.

Associate Superintendent for Business David Torres said the district will continue the abatement strategy, at least until 2013.

"I think it's a very effective strategy," he said.

The property tax levy is determined by the rate of inflation, the property values within the district and the state tax limits.

Board President Robert LeFevre Jr. also lauded the district's efforts in abating taxes.

"That's a pretty significant amount," he said.