Skokie trustees direct staff to draft $16.2M property-tax levy, citing pensions and operational needs
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Summary
Trustees voted to authorize drafting a 2025 property-tax levy ordinance to set a $16.2 million levy (a $750,000 increase) to help cover fiscal 2027 operations, pensions and limited staffing restoration; staff said most of the levy funds debt and pensions and that the change equals about $1.78 per month for an average residence.
The Village Board voted Nov. 17 to direct corporation counsel to draft a 2025 property-tax levy ordinance that would set the levy at roughly $16.2 million, an increase of $750,000 intended to address unfunded fiscal 2027 needs.
Finance Director Julian Prendy told trustees that 92% of the levy currently funds debt service and pensions and that the proposed $750,000 increase would predominantly support operations and staffing pressure projected for fiscal 2027. "For that reason, we are requesting and recommending an increase in the tax levy ... in the amount of $750,000 for a total levy of $16,206,345," Prendy said.
Prendy and Village Manager John Lockerbie walked trustees through Cook County procedures for assessment and levy-setting, homeowner and senior exemptions, and available county appeal windows. Prendy said the average residential impact of the proposed increase would be about $21.34 per year — or roughly $1.78 per month — and that the village has maintained a frozen levy in dollar terms for decades.
Trustees discussed trade-offs including a decades-long hiring freeze (39 positions frozen) that currently saves roughly $3.2 million annually, the pending expiration of a federal SAFER grant that funded three firefighter positions, and the limited number of positions the increase might restore (staff estimate: about 3 positions, in addition to funding uncertainty around the SAFER positions). Trustee Lisonbee Levy described the increase as "extremely necessary" despite its unpopularity.
The board's vote authorizes staff to prepare the ordinance for formal consideration and adoption at a future meeting; the county filing deadline requires the ordinances be submitted by Dec. 30 for inclusion in the 2025 tax year process. Trustees and staff said they will return with more detailed budget-line and personnel recommendations during the fiscal-2027 budgeting process.
The motion to direct counsel to draft the ordinance was moved by Trustee Gail Schechter, seconded by Trustee Lisonbee Levy, and approved by roll call.
