Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Tax Levy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Warrenville holds public hearing on 2025 property tax levy as finance director details pension increase
Summary
Finance Director Dahlstrom told the council and residents that the city is requesting an additional roughly $157,000 to support the police pension fund for 2025, confirmed planned use of self-imposed tax caps, and explained an abatement that will remove certain 2023 debt service from 2025 tax bills; a public commenter asked about new development revenue and recapture estimates.
Warrenville’s City Council opened a public hearing Dec. 15 on the proposed 2025 property tax levy and heard a presentation and questions from residents and aldermen. Finance Director Dahlstrom corrected a typo in the meeting packet and described the levy proposal, saying the city requests about $157,000 in additional revenue for the police pension fund and plans to self-apply the city’s longstanding tax caps.
Dahlstrom told the council the memo’s corrected new-construction value is 6,220,610 and explained that an abatement ordinance included with the packet would abate 2023 general obligation debt service so that such debt service will not appear on 2025 property tax bills. He said the city will file the levy with the county and submit a letter from the mayor indicating the city’s intent to self-cap again.
Alderman Davalos asked for a plain-language clarification about abatement; Dahlstrom confirmed that debt service payments covered by the abatement would be paid but would not be shown on property tax bills. Dahlstrom also explained that township-provided new-construction figures were delivered as aggregated totals and would be included when final levy calculations are made.
Public commenter Bob Siebert of Albright Court asked whether the levy totals shown that evening included revenue from new development and what the estimated recapture (aggregate refunds) would be. Dahlstrom said new development is included in the final calculation and estimated aggregate refunds at about $14,000; he said township data arrived as aggregates and staff would follow up with specific figures if requested.
Council members discussed the statutory tax-cap percentage used for 2025 (about 2.9%) and whether pension levies are constrained. Dahlstrom and other speakers noted that pension-related levies are shown on extensions as a capped fund but that, under state changes, municipalities may levy additional amounts for pension plans; he said the city is levying $1,565,945 for the pension fund in his presentation.
After additional public comment and council questions, Alderman Lockett moved and Alderman Wilkie seconded to close the public hearing; the motion passed and the council returned to the regular agenda.
The council included the levy ordinance and an abatement ordinance on the consent agenda and later approved those items as part of the consent vote. Staff said they will provide any requested follow-up detail about new-construction allocations and recapture numbers.
