District 211 adopts first 'flat' levy in a decade

Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 on Thursday adopted its first property tax levy in a decade without an increase, though one school board member and a couple of residents argued it could have been even lower.

Administrators have said in recent weeks that the flat levy of $216.2 million is a responsible compromise of educational and taxpayer interests, especially in light of the unknowns that exist with state and federal funding.

In keeping it flat, the district will use $2 million from cash reserves to pay part of the year's $3.3 million in debt payments.

Board member Pete Dombrowski voted against the levy, saying again he wants the full $3.3 million in debt service to be paid out of reserves. Board member Lauanna Recker was absent, so the vote to pass the levy was 5-1.

Resident John Parker of Schaumburg argued that what the district was calling a flat levy was in fact a 1 percent increase followed by a one-time rebate.

The district's finance staff has said that a 1 percent operating fund increase matching the rate of inflation is required to maintain the district's tax base against constantly rising costs. To skip the increase for even one year would cause a $10.9 million shortfall in only five years, they argue.

Administrators also said the difference between the recommended levy and the lower option Dombrowski and Parker favored would cost the owner of a $250,000 house in Hoffman Estates only $14 a year.

Schaumburg resident Mark Puchalski criticized the board and administration for taxing in amounts that allowed sufficient reserves to build up to replace all five of the district's swimming pools without need of a voter referendum.