The District 200 Board of Education has given preliminary approval for a 2.5 percent increase in the high school’s levy, which will result in roughly $1.6 million more than last year.
The final levy, expected to be approved next month, will total about $67.8 million. Officials at Oak Park and River Forest High School have steadfastly defended their large pool of reserves, which will climb over $110 million with next month’s levy approval. The school board approved the preliminary levy on Nov. 15. The school has not gone for a tax hike referendum since 2002 but did capture extra tax dollars in 2005 via an obscure provision referred to as a “phase-in.”
That technicality in the law allows a school district to capture all of the dollars that were not acquired from a previously-approved referendum. Though legal, the phase-in has been a bone of contention for many taxpayers in Oak Park and River Forest. School officials justify the phase-in as a way to postpone going to for another referendum until 2018 or later.
Cheryl Witham, OPRF’s chief financial officer, defends the school’s large fund balance, crediting the school board with sound financial stewardship. Witham noted that the school’s 2.5 percent levy increase is actually lower than the law allows.
But not everyone in the community sees it that way.
Barbara Langer, a River Forest resident, spoke out in opposition to the preliminary levy at the Nov. 15 regular board meeting. One of her wishes has been for the school to use some of its reserves to build a pool facility that can be used by all residents in the community.
Witham, speaking to Wednesday Journal on Monday, said some community members would like to use the school’s reserves for projects they are interested in. But Witham maintained that OPRF has a range of financial priorities, including salaries and health benefits for staff, that take precedence.
D200 board member Sharon Patchak-Layman also disapproves of the school’s large fund balance, going so far as to advocate giving a rebate back to taxpayers. Board member John Phelan opposes that, saying a one-year reduction in the levy would actually impact the high school annually in the future, forcing an earlier referendum. As for a tax rebate, Phelan noted that an Illinois bill dictating how that would be done has stalled in Springfield.
The D200 board is expected to finalize its levy on Dec. 20.
CONTACT: tdean@wjinc.com