Darien Won't Hike Tax Levy After All

DARIEN, IL – Taking a second look, the Darien City Council on Monday decided against increasing the property tax levy this year.

Last October, the council unanimously voted to increase the levy to $3 million, from $2.5 million, its first hike in 15 years.

At the time, officials said they may later reduce the tax levy request through a process known as "abatement." Public bodies often do this as more financial information becomes available.

For years, the property tax levy has covered the city's police pensions. It's come to the point where the pension costs exceed the levy, so the city started dipping into other income sources.

The proposal on the table Monday was to eliminate the entire tax levy increase.

Alderman Gerry Leganski said he was against doing that because the city must go elsewhere to find money for police pensions.

He said he would have favored the proposal if the city had made major budget cuts.

"I would rather keep a small tax levy increase in this year and try to hold that and try to decrease expenses in the future," Leganski said.

Alderman Erik Gustafson, who voted for the levy hike in October, took the opposite position of Leganski.

"I ran on the platform that I would never approve a tax increase, which I never will," he said.

Alderman Joe Kenny said he was "kind of with" Leganski on the issue.

"At the end of the day, there has to be some responsibility to the taxpayers to provide the services," Kenny said. "If we don't start doing things at a small basis today, where are we going to be five, 10 years down the road? We're going to be kicking the can down the road."

Alderman Ralph Stompanato said he was for eliminating the levy hike this year, but he cautioned the city may need an increase moving forward.

"Everything's going up," he said.

After a debate, the council voted 6-1 to eliminate the levy increase, with Leganski as the lone dissenter.

The city makes up about 3 percent or 4 percent of the property tax bill, depending on the school district. Schools make up the overwhelming majority of the bill.

As with most towns, Darien's contributions to its police pension system have spiked over the years. It was just $200,000 in 2002. Now, it's about $3 million.