Zion officials say levy increase is a technical step to access state CJA funds; residents press school accountability

At a Dec. 16 public hearing, City Administrator David Naval told the Zion City Council that a published increase in the city's tax levy is a technical step required to access state Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CJA) funds and does not mean residents will necessarily pay more in the City of Zion's share of property taxes.

"This public hearing is a statutory requirement from the state, to present what our proposed levy may be as well as give the public an opportunity to provide feedback," Naval said. He noted a Truth in Taxation notice showed an 8.7% increase over the prior year but said that increase is driven by the interaction of a prior, unreimbursable $1,000,000 levy reduction and the CJA abatement rules.

Naval said the CJA language requires 75% of the funds received by Zion taxing bodies to be used for property-tax abatements. He said the city expects to submit a levy of $9,085,646…