Elmhurst Wants $667K More From Taxpayers
ELMHURST, IL — The city of Elmhurst is seeking $667,000 more in property taxes next year — a 3.5 percent increase.
That tax levy hike is $36 for the average house in Elmhurst, which is about $430,000. It amounts to $14 for every man, woman and child, although the tax isn't assessed that way.
The tax levies for the city's main account and library were essentially flat. But the levies for the city's pension accounts rose more than 10 percent.
"This is completely driven by another increase in pension contributions," Alderwoman Noel Talluto, chairwoman of the city's finance committee, told the City Council on Monday.
She said the tax levy proposal recognizes and balances opposing pressures.
"An upward pressure continues to be felt through increasing pension payments, primarily the police and fire pensions," Talluto said. "The other opposing pressure is our desire to keep taxes low and reasonable for the taxpayers of Elmhurst, especially given the hardships placed on residents and property owners due to the COVID pandemic."
The recommendation was responsible in that it pays for pensions yet keeps other parts of the tax levy the same, she said.
Local governments have no power to change pension benefits and rules, which are left up to the state. Like most towns — both rich and poor — Elmhurst has seen quickly escalating costs for police and fire pensions.
After Talluto's statement, the City Council approved the tax levy for next year, which totals $19.9 million.
This article originally appeared on the Elmhurst Patch
