District 211 releases 2025 tax-levy recommendation as five-year forecast shows reserves slipping

District 211 Superintendent Judith Campbell and Chief Financial Officer Lauren Hummel presented a 2025 tax-levy recommendation and five-year financial forecast at the board—s Oct. 9 meeting, saying the levy is intended to preserve district operations while the administration pursues targeted expenditure reductions.

Hummel told the board the district is recommending a levy of approximately $207,000,000, which reflects the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) CPI limit of 2.9 percent, an estimated 0.7 percent in new property growth, and a $1.8 million look-back (recapture) amount from unclaimed prior levy capacity. She said PTELL caps annual levy increases at the lesser of the prior-year consumer price index (CPI) or 5 percent and allows districts to capture new construction growth in the year it appears on the tax roll.

"The levy recommendation is made with consideration of both the upcoming fiscal year as well as considering the long term financial impact," Hummel said. She added that approximately 80 percent of the district—s budget is…