Lake in the Hills plans rare tax levy decrease

For the first time in two decades, Lake in the Hills is planning a decrease in its is property tax levy extension, officials said.

Board members approved at a special committee meeting Tuesday night a resolution setting the 2011 tax levy at $5.56 million, a 1.2 percent decrease from the 2010 levy of $5.62 million. Village Administrator Gerald Sagona also proposed abating the 2011 tax levies for debt service, which amount to more than $1.3 million.

The village is planning to pay for that debt service through general fund revenues including sales taxes, Sagona said. The village will be debating the details of its 2012 budget during special meetings in the next week or two, he added.

Lake in the Hills officials are conscious that these are difficult times for people, Sagona said.

“The community is struggling and it’s not appropriate to be asking for additional monies from those that are struggling,” he said. Last year’s levy was unchanged from 2009.

Since 2000, the village increased its yearly tax levy extension by a minimum of four percent, with a high of 9.6 percent in 2005.

From 1992 to 1999, increases averaged 21 percent per year, according to data provided by the village.

The measure will be up for approval by the board at its meeting Thursday night.