New Lenox staff announces proposed 2025 tax levy; public hearing set for Dec. 10

Village finance staff announced the proposed 2025 tax levy to the New Lenox Village Board during the Nov. 1 meeting and scheduled a public hearing on the levy for Dec. 10.

At the meeting Kim presented the levy amount as read in the meeting packet and stated the levy complies with the Illinois property tax extension limitation law (the "tax cap"). Kim said the proposed levy is about $229,000 higher than last year, representing roughly a 5.51% increase. She also cited the Illinois Department of Revenue's CPI factor of 2.9% and an equalization factor of 6.9% as inputs staff used in calculating the levy, and said the village expects an equalized assessed-value growth figure of about $36.3 million from the assessor's data provided by Bonnie Hernandez.

Kim said the levy includes funding for employer pension obligations (IMRF), FICA and police-pension expenses and that the board will hold a required public hearing on Dec. 10 as part of the levy-adoption process.

Why it matters: The levy determines property-tax extension mechanics and helps set the revenue baseline that funds local services including public safety and public works. The village notes that state funding levels affect local tax burdens and that the levy follows the village's long-standing promise to adhere to the tax cap notwithstanding home-rule authority.

What comes next: The board will hear public comment at the Dec. 10 levy hearing and may adopt a final levy afterward as required by statute and local procedure. Citizens seeking exact levy figures or a line-item breakdown are advised to consult the official levy packet posted by the village clerk or contact village finance staff.

Representative excerpt from meeting: Kim stated that "this does comply with the property tax extension limitation law or tax cap" and said the CPI factor used was 2.9% and the equalization factor 6.9%.