District 112 hires $347,250 tax‑credit consultants for geothermal projects; officials say about $11 million in credits may be eligible

The North Shore SD 112 Board of Education on Oct. 21 unanimously approved a $347,250 consulting agreement with Baker Tilly Advisory Group to pursue federal renewable energy tax credits for geothermal heating, ventilation and air‑conditioning projects at Braeside, Sherwood and Wayne Thomas. The contract covers a phased eligibility assessment and preparation of workpapers to support Investment or Production Tax Credit claims under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

At a recent Facilities Committee briefing and during the board presentation, district staff and consultants said the district’s projects could qualify for “bonus” credits tied to Energy Community designation and Domestic Content requirements. The meeting minutes state: “It is anticipated that the District will qualify for tax credits of approximately $11 million over the next several years.” The board approved the consulting agreements by roll‑call vote, 7–0.

The engagement is intended to maximize available Investment Tax Credits or Production Tax Credits and requires careful compliance work, including documentation for bonus credit categories. The board’s motion to approve the Baker Tilly agreement was moved by Mr. Bennett Lasko and seconded by Ms. Lori Fink; AYES were Butler, Fink, Fishman, Hirsh, Itkin, Kessler and Lasko.

Next steps include consultant work to complete eligibility assessments and produce the tax workpapers needed for claiming credits when projects reach the required stages of completion. The minutes note the district expects to pursue credits over several years as project work and compliance requirements are documented.