Schools

Last Vote for 4.9 Percent D159 Tax Levy Wed. Night

The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education gave the go ahead at the November meeting for a 4.9 percent tax levy request. A public hearing on it will be held at Wednesday night's meeting.

The floor will be open at Mokena School District 159’s board meeting Wednesday night for residents to share views on a 4.9 percent tax levy increase request.

Board members unanimously approved the levy request at the November meeting, and a public hearing on it will be held Wednesday night. While the district can request any tax levy, residents will only see a 1.7 percent increase on the D159 portion of their property tax bills. Laws require that school districts can only get a levy increase that is equal to the Consumer Price Index, which is 1.7 this year, though no greater than 5 percent.

In actual dollars, the owner of a $200,000 home will likely see a $30 increase from D159, according to D159 Director of Business Operations John Troy.

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Asking for a tax levy higher than CPI opens up the opportunity to take in tax revenue from new development that starts generating money within the taxing period, Troy said.

“We’re looking at possibly $2 million in new development for this levy,” Troy said. “To put it into perspective with prior levels, between 2003 and 2005, we were seeing growth between $15 million and $30 million.”

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A project like the new Meijer being built near Wolf Road and Route 30 can add to the revenue significantly, but it won’t be a part of this levy.

“That will be a part of the next levy,” Troy said.

Board members were mostly opposed to a higher levy beyond 4.9 percent, while discussing the levy at the October meeting.

The board will meet 7 p.m. Wednesday at Mokena Elementary School, 11244 Willow Crest Ln.

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