Palatine Park District to collect slightly less in taxes next year
Palatine Park District officials recently moved forward with a couple measures aimed at minimizing its burden on taxpayers.
The district's board of commissioners approved a tax levy that likely will result in the park district collecting about $1,000 less in total tax dollars than last year.
The $11 million levy represents a 1.8 percent increase over 2011, but the park district will spend $231,000 from its $12.2 million reserve fund to reduce bond and interest obligations.
The board also approved a tax abatement of nearly $807,000 for debt service related to Falcon Park Recreation Center construction and Eagle Pool renovations.
“This is all an effort to keep taxpayers bills stable from last year,” Superintendent of Finance and Personnel Debbie Smith said. “It's fair to say there could be a minimal decrease.”
Officials said neither programs nor services will be negatively affected by the slight tax decrease.
Commissioners this month also decided to hold off on any flood alleviation efforts at Palatine Hills Golf Course until a board workshop can be held to discuss how to proceed. Recommended by Director of Golf Operations Raul Zaldivar, the workshop is expected to take place within the next few months.
In August, an engineering firm presented three options — the least of which comes with a $380,000 price tag — on how to reduce the amount and the duration of frequent flooding at the golf course.
“It will cost so much to try and contain that flooding, even in engineering and permit fees,” Smith said. “Before we do any of that, we want to make sure this is what we really want to do.”
Located in a flood plain tucked back from Northwest Highway, the course must close about five days every season because of flooding, officials said. But some holes are deemed unplayable far more often than that.
Similar to many park district golf courses, Palatine Hills consistently loses money. Though year-end figures aren't yet available, so far in 2011 it's about $196,000 in the red.