Glen Ellyn Park District residents to see tax burden drop

GLEN ELLYN – Property taxes will be lower for Glen Ellyn Park District residents in 2018.

The Park District Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the 2018 annual budget Dec. 12, which will result in a tax decrease, according to a news release from the district. The referendum bonds that paid for Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center will be retired, resulting in lower taxes.

A property owner in the district with property assessed at $400,000 will pay about $178 less in property tax in 2018 compared to 2016, the release stated. The average tax bill for residents dropped by about 10.2 percent on the Park District portion of their 2016 tax bill, payable in 2017, and it is estimated to decrease an additional 22 percent on their 2017 tax bill, payable in 2018.

"I am thrilled that the residents of the Glen Ellyn Park District will pay considerably less in property taxes without a reduction in services or quality," park board President Julia Nephew said in the release. "This could become the norm all over DuPage County if government entities were to follow the leadership and careful financial planning that the Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners, followed through by staff, has carefully developed and implemented over the past six years."

The approved 2018 budget enables the district to continue to provide, improve and increase the recreational opportunities within the district while maintaining and improving existing assets, according to the release. Capital projects for next year include the replacement of two playgrounds – Main Street Recreation Center and President's Park – improvement of the main parking lot in front of the Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, Churchill Park bridge repairs and enhancement of the Lake Ellyn Park path at the south end of the lake near the Glenbard West High School visitor's spectator stand.

"I am feeling really good that the careful planning and fiscal management the board and staff have been committed to have enabled us to do the boathouse restoration and begin the Lake Ellyn Park improvements while staying within our financial means," commissioner Kathy Cornell said in the release. "We have many worthwhile projects to do, including ongoing maintenance and needed improvements to our facilities, and I'm confident that with the same approach we'll continue to have excellent facilities and programming for the community."