Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article published Dec. 11 incorrectly had the tax levy increase at 4.98% rather than the 3.24% increase which was ratified. Wednesday Journal regrets the error.
The Oak Park village board approved a property tax levy increase for next year as part of the village’s 2026 budget.
Oak Park’s village government property taxes will increase by 3.24%, in 2026 following Dec. 9’s board vote ratifying next year’s budget and tax levy. The village government’s tax levy includes the property tax contributions for the Oak Park Public library, according to village staff.
The village government tax only makes up 15% of Oak Park property owners annual property taxes, with other taxing bodies including the two local school districts taking in a larger share of Oak Park property taxes.
The tax levy helps the village fund its general operations, debt service payments and contributions to the police and fire pensions, according to the village. With this year’s levy increase, the village’s police pension cost will see a boost of $637,159 and its fire pension funding will increase by $660,561 along with an increase of $595,478 for general operations and a funding decrease of $840,748 for debt services according to village staff.
The village increased its tax levy by 3.6% last year after not increasing the levy at all in 2023.
The village held a “Truth in Taxation” hearing on the levy increase on Nov. 18, in which only one resident commented on the proposed levy.
The final levy increase was set after months of village board finance committee meetings, which involved Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman, sitting trustees Derek Eder, Jim Taglia and Brian Straw and several community members. During the Truth in Taxation hearing last month, Scaman said the finance committee will continue meeting after the new year as the village works to finalize the funding and tax impacts associated with the village’s plan to establish a new police station and renovate Village Hall.
“This is the first time in 50 years that the village of Oak Park has had to undertake discussions inclusive of such a major facilities project,” Scaman said. “We will be having that additional transparency to lead us through that process, as well as navigating the climate we’re living in today,