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Meeting Highlights - November 9, 2015
District 225 adopts tentative property tax levy
On November 9, the Glenbrook High School District 225 Board of Education adopted a tentative property tax levy amount of $101,564,123 for the 2015 tax year. A combination of 0.8 percent based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for inflation and 2.2 percent to capture new property growth, reflects a total increase tax levy of 3.0 percent over last year. The estimated new growth factor of 2.2 percent helps to ensure that the tax representing the value of all property in the district is properly collected. Taxpayers benefit from a district's ability to capture new growth, as the value of new properties is added to the overall tax base.
Under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), Cook County school districts are limited to a property tax revenue increase of the current rate of inflation as measured by the CPI (0.8 percent) or five percent, whichever is less. In addition, school districts are allowed to gain additional revenue from new property introduced to the tax base. School districts, including District 225, commonly issue a levy that is more than they will actually receive because at the time of levy, the value of the equalized assessed valuation (EAV) for new property is unknown.
"The tentative tax levy allows us to meet the district's fixed annual expenses, as well as rising costs due to inflation and growing student enrollment," said Assistant Superintendent for Business Hillarie Siena. "Under the law, school districts have only one chance to capture revenue from new properties. If they fail to ask for that tax revenue at the time those properties first come on to the tax rolls, the districts will never be able to recover the added value later." Siena continued, "It is important that taxpayers not equate the district's levy with a percentage increase in their individual property taxes. The tax levy is merely a request for the supporting the district overall. Many other factors, including the specific assessed valuation of an individual's property and allowable exemptions determine how much a property owner actually pays."
Even though the Board is not required to host a Truth in Taxation hearing because the levy amount requested is less than five percent, it has elected to do so to enhance transparency. The hearing will be held during the Board's regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, December 14, at 7 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room located at 3801 W. Lake Avenue in Glenview.
"The action taken by the Board is consistent with sound fiscal management practices that have helped maintain high quality educational services for students as well as fiscal responsibility for taxpayers," said Board President Skip Shein.
The tentative tax levy request and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the District website at www.glenbrook225.org.
Student enrollment consistent with forecasts
Every fall, the district utilizes the housing report enrollment figures of both the feeder schools and the high schools to predict the student population for the next three years. At this time, total enrollment for the district is 5,059, and represents a difference of 37 more students than projected in 2014. Glenbrook North's enrollment is 2,057, while Glenbrook South's enrollment is 3,002 students.
"The current enrollment forecast for GBS indicates that the population will remain under 3,200 students, a number we feel is appropriate for the capacity of that facility," said Superintendent Dr. Mike Riggle. "The population at GBS will gradually come back down and the GBN population is projected to be slightly higher and more consistent than originally thought."
Board member Cindy Wilkas announces resignation
Due to a relocation outside of the district boundaries, Board member Mrs. Cindy Wilkas announced her impending resignation, effective in early 2016, on a specific date to be determined. Mrs. Wilkas was elected to the Board in 2013, and her current term would have expired in 2017.
"We consider her departure a tremendous loss to the district and the community," said Superintendent Dr. Mike Riggle. "Mrs. Wilkas has done a great job as a board member and we will miss her."
The Board plans to advertise the upcoming vacancy in the coming weeks, and will publish details of the application process on the district website and in its electronic newsletters.
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Consent agenda:
Regular actions such as appointments, resignations, FOIA, vendor bills, minutes, gifts, etc. are approved during the consent agenda. To view supporting documentation (when available) and the official meeting minutes, please visit the Board of Education section of our website. Please note, official minutes are available after Board approval the following meeting.
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