LTHS 205 approves 2025 tax levy and abates debt-service on existing bonds to blunt homeowner impact

At its Dec. 15 meeting, the Lockport Township High School District 205 Board of Education voted to approve the 2025 tax-levy resolution and to authorize abatement of debt-service levies for several bond series, a move administrators said will blunt the immediate property-tax burden on homeowners by using district fund balances instead of increasing the debt-service levy.

Board action: After administration presented background materials — including equalization factors from county assessor data, sample tax-bill impacts and memos explaining levy calculations — the board moved, seconded and adopted the tax-levy resolution for 2025. The board also approved separate resolutions authorizing permanent interfund transfers and abating debt-service levies for bond issues referenced in the agenda (board discussed 2017, 2019 and 2025 series). Roll-call votes were taken and the resolutions passed as recorded in the meeting minutes.

Administrator explanation: Finance staff explained that the district limits its request under the property tax extension limitation law and that the district has, for several years, used fund balances to abate debt-service amounts to keep homeowner bills lower. One finance memo cited that roughly $4.3 million of debt-service was not collected in recent years because the board abated the levy and paid debt-service from fund balance. The finance presentation also noted the consumer-price-index (CPI) cap (about 2.9%) for levy growth; equalization and new property elements were cited as additional factors that change the calculated rate.

Why it matters: Abatement reduces what appears on a homeowner’s tax bill in the short term but uses district fund balances instead of collecting the levy through the county clerk. Administrators said this approach has limited near-term tax increases while keeping the district’s long-term debt profile and reserve strategy under review.

Next steps: The board approved the resolutions required by the county clerk and state forms; staff will sign and file the required county and ISBE paperwork. Administrators said they will continue to present financing scenarios and the facilities plan to the board so the district can balance capital needs with long-term fiscal capacity.