The Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board of Education voted 7-0 Dec. 17 to approve the district’s 2024 resolution certifying its property tax levy.

The vote came after a public hearing and a staff presentation that explained the difference between the levy (the board’s request to counties) and the extension (what counties place on property tax bills under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Act, commonly called the tax cap). District staff told the board the tax-cap factor for the levy is 3.4% and that the district’s current estimate of new construction equalized assessed value (EAV) is $40,000,000 — roughly $30 million residential and $10 million commercial — which affects how much of the levy is subject to the cap.

Chris (staff member) said the board’s requested levy is a 5.2% request that includes the 3.4% tax‑cap portion plus an amount to capture anticipated new construction. Staff presented an illustrative impact: on a $500,000 home with no new-construction adjustments the district’s portion of the bill would rise by $245.39 (about $20 monthly), according to the materials shown to the board.

The presentation also broke the levy into operating (capped at 3.4%) and bond-and-interest components. Staff said the bond and interest extension amount is set by scheduled referendum payments and noted the district has abated portions of debt service in prior years and will revisit abatement in January. Federal ESSER funding is winding down, state aid is expected to remain flat, and local property taxes make up the majority of district revenue, staff said.

Board members discussed the tax impact on homeowners, the district’s return on investment in programs and facilities, recent increases in insurance and other costs, enrollment trends and the district’s capital projects. Several trustees reiterated that the district continues to scrutinize spending and that an abatement conversation is planned in January. Superintendent Doctor Campbell and other administrators answered board questions about program investments and the strategic plan’s alignment to spending.

Motion: “I moved that the Board of Education approve the resolution of the 2024 certificate of levy.” Motion was made by Mrs. Trautman and seconded by Mrs. Hassler. The motion passed 7-0.

The board’s approval authorizes district staff to file the levy with the two counties on or before the statutory deadline; the counties will ultimately calculate extensions under the tax-cap rules and the final levy extension will appear on 2025 tax bills.