Crystal Lake school districts approve final tax levy

Crystal Lake High School District 155 and Elementary School District 47′s boards both approved final property tax levy increases earlier this month.

District 155′s board approved a $76,905,214 levy at its December meeting, making for a 1.19% raise from last year’s levy, while District 47 approved a $76,325,000 levy this year, which is higher than last year’s $74.6 million extension by 2.2%.

However, District 47′s final levy still is $268,000 less than the tentative levy amount it requested in November.

Cathy Nelson, assistant superintendent of business for District 47, said the district heard various comments and concerns about the tentative levy.

“We have taken that into account and we’ve lowered that,” Nelson said at a December school board meeting.

District 155′s administration recommended the board take the 2.3% allowable inflationary increase on its tax levy.

To offset that increase, Jeremy Davis, District 155′s assistant superintendent of finance and operations and chief school business official, said the district plans to abate the debt service fund by $1 million. This is set to be voted on at the January board meeting, Davis said.

If a $250,000 house appreciates in value, which Davis said is expected, the property owner will see an estimated tax rate increase of 1.19%, or about $25.49.

If a house does not increase in value, the tax rate will go down, leading to a decrease of $36.58 to property owners, Davis said.

Students in District 47 have been in remote learning for most of the year, although Nelson said in a news release that school buildings still are operating, and educators and staff still are working.

In addition, bus drivers have helped with food distribution and support staff continue to work with students virtually and assisting with logistics, such as organizing and preparing educational materials or supply pick-ups for families.

“We’ve wanted to provide teachers the opportunity to come into their classrooms to teach remotely if they so choose, and our bus drivers and support staff have continued to serve our students but in different ways this year,” Nelson said.

During the tax levy public hearings, some residents criticized the school districts for proposing to take a higher tax levy because of the financial hardships families are having because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But district officials said revenue is needed to weather potential cuts to state funding because of COVID-19, COVID-19 related costs schools have incurred, and various capital improvements.

In a news release, District 47 said it is continuing to review staff needs and spending because of state funding and the impact of COVID-19 on the local economy.

The district is also bound by contractual obligations among different workgroups, and has spent more than $300,000 on face masks, plexiglass barriers, safety signage and cleaning and disinfecting supplies, according to the release.

“We have prioritized the health and safety of our students and staff this year in light of the pandemic,” Nelson said. ”We are committed to continuing to be vigilant, resourceful, and fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars, now more than ever.”

At District 155, the money is needed because state finances are in “dismal shape” right now, Davis said.

“This year, we’re receiving approximately $16.8 million from the state of Illinois and a cut of just 5% would mean a loss of $840,000,” Davis said. “A cut of 10% would be double that about $1.6 million, $1.7 million. So we’re very leery of that, and that’s one of the reasons we’re asking for additional money on the tax levy.”

District 155, Davis said, also has had to spend additional resources because of the pandemic. This includes adding four custodians for additional and cleaning sanitation in buildings and adding four technicians for online learning. More than $200,000 was bought in additional COVID-19 supplies as well.

“District 155 is not taxing to the max,” Davis said. “We could increase more and we’re choosing not to do that by abating $1 million.”