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Evanston district says Cook County delay is straining cash flow; board adopts 2025 tax levy
Summary
Superintendent said Cook County has not distributed autumn property tax payments, forcing the district to draw on reserves and liquidate investments; the board adopted the 2025 tax levy by unanimous roll call.
The Evanston Township High School District 202 Board of Education on Dec. 8 approved the district's 2025 tax levy as administrators warned that delayed property tax distributions from Cook County have strained the district's cash flow.
"We are sort of at the end of what we could manage, receiving no money from Cook County, for the year," Superintendent Doctor Campbell told the board, saying the district has gone months without county distributions and has been relying on its fund balance to run the school.
Kendra Williams of the business office said administrators have had to liquidate investments to maintain cash on hand. "We had to liquidate some investments," she said, adding that the district typically budgets over $80,000,000 and that the fall installment — roughly half of that total — has not been distributed.
Why it matters: the district depends on property tax installments for a substantial share of its annual revenue. Campbell said administrators are exploring advocacy and other remedies — including the possibility of issuing tax anticipation warrants if county payments are not forthcoming — and urged the board to press county officials for clarity and timely distribution.
The board moved to adopt the 2025 tax levy at the meeting. The motion carried on a roll‑call vote in which all present voted yes.
Votes at a glance: - Adoption of the 2025 tax levy — Motion moved and seconded; roll call recorded unanimous approval (yes tally recorded in the meeting transcript). - Consent agenda (minutes of Nov. 10, 2025; treasurer's report for Sept. 2025; approval of bills and personnel report) — approved by roll call.
What officials said and next steps: Campbell asked the board to engage in advocacy with Cook County and other districts to seek guaranteed timetables for distributions. Administrators said they hoped the county might distribute funds by the coming Friday but cautioned there was no guarantee. The board did not take additional formal financial action at the meeting beyond adopting the levy.
