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Commissioner urges campaign to shift District 91’s property-tax share to Forest Park, estimates millions in revenue
Summary
Commissioner Nero proposed pursuing a community petition or legislative path to change how Cook County allocates property-tax dollars so a larger share would flow to Forest Park rather than District 91; legal and statutory constraints were cited and staff will consult the village attorney.
Commissioner Nero told the council he is seeking support for a campaign to change the allocation of property-tax revenue so Forest Park would receive a larger share currently going to District 91.
Nero argued that District 91’s enrollment and spending levels mean a reallocation could materially bolster village revenues. He told the council the district’s total 694-student enrollment and a cited district budget produced a per-student spending figure he calculated as about $38,880. Nero estimated that an 8-percentage-point shift in the portion of tax revenue allocated to the village could yield roughly $4,000,000 in annual revenue for Forest Park.
Other council members and staff cautioned that the allocation is governed by state law and Cook County procedures. One council member noted that the Illinois State Board of Education provides assessment formulas that factor into levy calculations and that the process would likely require petitions, potentially a referendum, and legal analysis. Chair (speaker 1) said legal counsel would be asked to advise whether the change would require a community petition, a nonbinding referendum or state legislation.
The council did not endorse a specific legal path at the meeting; it asked staff to consult legal counsel and return with options and next steps if the proposal is viable.
