Lockport Township HSD 205 approves tentative tax levy; superintendent urges debt-service abatement

Dr. Bob McBride, superintendent of Lockport Township High School District 205, said the school board voted to approve a tentative tax levy at its Nov. 17 meeting and emphasized the difference between the levy figure and individual property tax bills. “That levy is a 4% increase over the 2024 levy, but that doesn't mean that it's a 4% increase in your taxes,” McBride said.

McBride explained two factors determine how the levy affects homeowners: the district-set tax rate and the assessed value of homes. He said the district continues to lower its tax rate, reporting this year’s rate at 1.73. He also said township assessors in Homer Township, DuPage and Lockport expect home values to increase by about 6–7%, which can raise individual bills even when the tax rate is reduced.

The superintendent described the district’s fiscal posture as conservative: earlier this year the board passed a budget that lists the district’s planned fiscal 2026 expenditures, McBride said, and the district ends each year with a balanced budget and relatively low debt despite recent construction at Central and East campuses.

McBride recommended a debt service abatement after the levy is passed, explaining the district could use cash reserves to pay debt service rather than raising property-tax collections. He said doing so “saves you roughly about 50 to $90 on your tax bill every time that we do that.”

McBride directed residents to the Nov. 17 board agenda on the district website for the full tentative-levy description and budget materials. The board approved the tentative levy during the meeting; a final levy and any further fiscal actions will follow the legally required process under Illinois law, including subsequent board steps and public documentation.