Lower Property Taxes Coming To South Suburbs In New Schools Grant

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — Homeowners across the south suburbs will see lower property bills this year under a new state program that gives school districts more funding in exchange for lowering tax rates.

Illinois funds its schools based on property taxes, which means districts in areas where the property tax bases are low have put the squeeze on homeowners and small businesses. With this grant, the Illinois State Board of Education will give districts in those areas more money, but the districts must lower the tax first.

Eligible school districts must submit an abatement resolution to their county clerks by March 30. ISBE will then distribute the grants once receiving all abatement certificates.

In the south suburbs, those that qualify include:

• Rich Township High School District 227 ($2,736,497)
• Bloom Township H.S. District 206 ($2,186,029)
• Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233 ($1,963,818)
• Park Forest School District 163 ($573,153)

“Communities with little property wealth have been forced to increase their taxes year after year, placing a high burden on homeowners and small businesses and cheating students out of a quality education,” said State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) said in a statement. “For many South Suburban communities, this has only increased economic disinvestment and neighborhood stagnation.”

More information on the Property Tax Relief Grant and a listing of each eligible school district can be found at www.ISBE.net/proptaxrelief.

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