Lombard property taxes likely to increase slightly

The village of Lombard's share of an average homeowner's property tax bill is likely to increase about $6 to support the village's 2011 tax levy, which moved one step closer to final approval Thursday night.

Under the proposed levy, the owner of a home valued at $300,000 would owe the village $519 in property taxes, up $6 from what the same homeowner paid last year, according to a report prepared by Finance Director Tim Sexton.

The levy was approved unanimously Thursday night, and a final vote will be taken at the village board's next meeting Thursday, Dec. 1.

If the levy is approved, the village's share of the property tax bill will increase slightly despite an average drop of about 7 percent in the assessed value of properties in Lombard, according to the DuPage County Supervisor of Assessments.

Limited by a state tax cap law, Lombard's tax levy is set to increase to $8,333,359, a 1.7 percent growth from the $8,194,273 collected last year.

The levy doesn't incorporate funding for any major new programs or village services, it's meant to “account for increased costs of the village,” Sexton said.

Lombard's share of residents' property tax bills is about 7.5 percent of the total, he said. The money goes toward police and fire pensions, the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, liability insurance, social security and other general costs.

Trustee Greg Gron said the village board's finance committee, which he leads, strongly supported levying the most taxes allowed by the state tax cap to help with village operating expenses. The tax cap allows governments to increase their taxes a limited amount based on inflation.

“The finance committee was very adamant about the need to keep afloat,” Gron said. “Otherwise we'd have to cut services more than we already have.”

Lombard property owners should have received the assessed value of their property from York Township and have until Dec. 19 to appeal the assessments, Village Manager David Hulseberg said.