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CHSD 128 board adopts $103.16 million tax levy; approves safety assessment, course changes and maintenance grant
Summary
The CHSD 128 Board of Education on Nov. 17 adopted a final 2025 tax levy of $103,157,298 (estimated extension about 3.7% overall; 2.9% average increase for existing homeowners) and unanimously approved multiple action items including an Allegion security assessment for $11,000, course proposals for 2026–27, a FY26 $50,000 matching maintenance grant application and a campus‑safety memorandum of agreement.
The CHSD 128 Board of Education voted unanimously on Nov. 17 to adopt a final 2025 tax levy of $103,157,298 and approved a slate of action items that the board said position the district for planned capital work and safety improvements.
Finance staff presented the levy as the district’s final adoption for 2025. According to staff, the levy figure ‘‘allows us for a $300,000 cushion’’ while estimating an extension that translates to an average 2.9% increase for existing homeowners under the state tax‑cap law; the overall anticipated increase including new property is about 3.7%. ‘‘We’re estimating based on the state law and calculations that we’re gonna be just under 103,000,000 for what the levy will be,’’ a district finance presenter said during the presentation.
Board members discussed the district’s revenue composition and fiduciary priorities. Trustee Doug Fleagle urged operational efficiencies and careful stewardship, noting that ‘‘90% of our revenues come from homeowners, residential taxation’’ and calling for prudence as the district emerges from COVID‑era and interim leadership adjustments.
On other action items the board:
- Approved a memorandum of agreement for campus safety by roll call (motion moved and seconded as recorded).
- Authorized hiring/termination personnel items that had been brought forward after committee meetings (motion passed by roll call).
- Awarded a security and emergency planning assessment to Allegion for $11,000 after trustees discussed the firm’s expected quality and voted unanimously to approve the contract.
- Approved course proposals and revisions for the 2026–27 school year (motion moved by Raul Deshmukh; seconded by West Poland) after a routine roll call.
- Voted to apply for the FY26 school maintenance project grant, a $50,000 matching grant; trustees and staff discussed the requirement that grant funds be applied to a future capital project and noted the Vernon Hills High School pool air‑handler/HVAC replacement is on the summer 2026 project list.
The board approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting and concluded business items before moving to informational presentations. All recorded motions described above passed by roll call with the voting members recorded as present and voting 'Aye.'
What happens next: staff said the adopted levy will be filed with the county (it must be filed by the last Tuesday in December) and that projects tied to the maintenance grant must not be under way before grant acceptance.
