Round Lake CUSD 116 CFO announces 4.9% levy request; public hearing Monday

T. A. M., chief financial officer for Round Lake CUSD 116, said the district will ask taxpayers for a 4.9% increase in the property tax levy and invited the public to a hearing on Monday at 6:50 p.m. at the Round Lake High School library.

"This year, we're requesting a 4.9% increase," T. A. M. said, adding that "we only will probably get more like a 2.3% increase." The levy is the district's second-largest source of funding, the speaker said, and the request is intended to help cover rising operating costs and maintain services for students.

The district is asking for a larger levy now because final allocations and property valuations are not settled until spring, T. A. M. said. "In that time, new houses could be built, the value of a house could change, and so we ask for more now in order to try to capture the most amount of revenue and the most accurate picture of our district in the spring," the CFO said.

T. A. M. characterized the request as routine: "What we are asking for is not unusual. As a matter of fact, we ask for an increase in property taxes every year." The increase is intended to offset rising costs such as utilities and transportation, the speaker said.

The district will review the proposed levy in a public hearing that will be part of the next board of education meeting. "Our hearing on Monday will be part of our board of education meeting. We encourage you to attend if you're interested in learning more," T. A. M. said. The meeting time was given as 6:50 p.m. in the Round Lake High School library.

No formal vote or final levy figure was announced in this recorded statement; the public hearing is the next step listed by district staff.