Devote Elmhurst Tax Hike To Smaller Class Sizes?

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst School District 205 is getting $7.5 million more from property taxpayers this year. So a resident called for some of that money to address local class size concerns.

"I respectfully ask Elmhurst 205 to earmark part of the fund from this year's tax increase to reduce K-3 class sizes to a range of 19 to 22," parent Nadia Wetzel said at a board meeting.

According to Illinois data, Elmhurst had an average class size of 24 in 2023-24, compared with a statewide average of 21.

The board did not respond to Wetzel's request. But all the money from the tax hike may be spoken for.

Over the last four years, the district's percentage increases in its property tax levy have totaled about 15 percent. During that same time, inflation has gone up by 21 percent.

One of the biggest factors in a district's finances is teacher pay and benefits, which make up more than half the budget.

Last year, the school board reached a three-year deal with the teachers union. At the time, officials said the total teacher salaries would rise to $62.3 million this year, up from $59 million a year earlier. By the third year, the number is expected to reach $69.1 million.

The district has also seen big hikes in health insurance costs for teachers – 5 percent in 2024 and 37 percent in 2023.

Additionally, the district has seen double-digit hikes in recent years under its school bus contract.

District 205 is one of only a handful of districts in Illinois with the state's worst financial rating. Most of the other low-ranking ones are far less wealthy than Elmhurst.

The district has said the rating resulted from an accounting change. Officials said they expect an improved designation later this year.

At a school board meeting last month, member Courtenae Trautmann expressed concern over hiring a consultant who could cost up to $40,000 to help with a transition in the business office.

"To me, it seems like a lot," she said. "I feel like we are going to make some difficult financial decisions coming up in the next few months."

She did not give specifics.