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Proviso Twp HSD 209 finance team presents tentative 2.9% tax levy; treasurer warns of Cook County collection delays
Summary
District finance staff presented a tentative levy increase of 2.9%—the CPI cap for levy year—projecting a levy of $78.6 million and estimating modest homeowner impact; the treasurer warned that Cook County delays have left the district with far less property-tax cash on hand than typical this time of year.
Proviso Township High Schools District 209 staff presented a tentative tax levy of 2.9% during the Oct. 14 board meeting and outlined the district’s timetable for final approval. The presentation linked the proposed increase to the consumer price index applicable under the tax-cap law and recommended capturing the full allowable increase.
Dr. Hill, presenting the levy information (identified in the meeting transcript only as "Dr. Hill"), explained the timetable: the estimated levy was presented Oct. 14 and the board aims to approve the levy on Nov. 12, 2025. Once approved, the district must submit levy documents to the Cook County clerk by the last Tuesday in December, the transcript notes.
The proposed levy for levy year 02/2025 totals $78,600,000, up from $76,400,000 in 02/2024. The presentation said the increase would primarily support education, operations and maintenance, and transportation funds. The district’s staff explained that property taxes make up about two-thirds of district revenue (63% in the slide cited), with evidence-based funding representing 18% and federal sources about 8.8%.
District staff calculated the estimated impact to a homeowner of a $300,000 market-value home at about $52 per year, roughly $4.33 per month. Presenters noted the CPI applicable for levy year 02/2025 is 2.9%, which is the figure the district used to compute the proposed levy.
The treasurer’s report, delivered later in the meeting, warned that delays in Cook County’s collection and release of property-tax revenue have materially affected the district’s cash flow. The treasurer reported the district had received only about 6% of expected property-tax revenue to date, compared with roughly 34–35% at the same point the prior year. Officials said the district is drawing on reserves to cover the timing gap and emphasized that reserves help bridge such delays.
Administrators said the district’s projected operational fund balance is $59.2 million as of June 30, compared with an operational expenses figure reported at $92.8 million, yielding a fund-balance ratio the presentation listed as about 63.78 (the presentation cited the state-required Public Act 103-0394 report). District staff stressed the importance of maintaining reserves to protect against revenue timing risk.
Board members asked comparative questions about neighboring districts’ levy requests; the presenter said some neighboring districts planned larger increases, including requests near the 4.8%–4.9% range, and confirmed the district chose the lower 2.9% request as a conscious decision.
No formal levy approval occurred at the Oct. 14 meeting; the board was presented the estimate and scheduled a vote for Nov. 12, 2025, per the timetable provided.
Questions about the levy and the treasurer’s report drew discussion but no formal motions. The board also heard that delayed collections mean district cash outflows currently exceed collections, increasing short-term borrowing or reserve-use risk if the Cook County timeline does not improve.
