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Deerfield District 109 staff recommend a 3.4% levy increase; Truth in Taxation hearing set for November
Summary
Finance staff told the board the administration recommends increasing the 2024 tax levy by the consumer price index (3.4%) and may add a supplemental debt service levy (approximately $45,000); the board will hold a Truth in Taxation hearing in November and must file the levy with the county clerk by December.
District finance staff presented the proposed 2024 tax levy to the Board of Education on Oct. 17, recommending a levy increase at the consumer price index rather than the statutory 5% cap alternative.
The presenter explained the levy is the district's 'ask' and the county clerk calculates the extension that becomes tax revenue. As presented, the district's recommendation is to set the levy at CPI (3.4% for the 12 months ended Dec. 2023) and to consider an annual supplemental debt service levy to capture roughly $45,000 of additional extension base revenue.
The presenter walked the board through the levy timeline: the finance committee reviewed the draft on Oct. 5, the board will hold a Truth in Taxation public hearing at the November meeting, the district will take action following that hearing, file required documents with the county clerk in December, and receive final extended numbers from the clerk in April.
A board finance committee member said the committee supports applying the debt levy and maximizing available CPI increases to protect funds for master facility planning, noting that reducing the levy now would carry long‑term costs to the district. "It's prudent of us to continue down that path of applying the debt levy," the committee member said.
No final levy vote occurred at the Oct. 17 meeting; the board scheduled the public hearing and indicated it will act after that hearing in November.
Next steps: the district will hold the Truth in Taxation hearing in November, then take board action and file the levy with the county clerk before the last Tuesday in December.
