Elmhurst Tax Hike Gets Unanimous Backing

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst aldermen on Monday unanimously approved a property tax increase for next year, with one making the case for its necessity.

The tax levy is going up by $1 million, which the city estimates would mean $56 more for the owner of a $500,000 house.

The non-pension part of the tax levy has stayed the same since 2014. During the same time, the consumer price index has risen 30 percent, Alderwoman Noel Talluto told her colleagues.

"At some point, normal cost increases cannot continue to be absorbed in our budget," said Talluto, the finance committee's chairwoman.

She also pointed to health insurance cost increases.

Last month, the city approved a budget with $3.6 million in cuts.

Talluto cited a city analysis showing that Elmhurst had the third-lowest property tax rate among 34 DuPage County towns.

Such a statistic does not necessarily indicate that Elmhurst is more conservative with taxpayer dollars. According to the city analysis, wealthier towns generally had lower rates. That's because property-rich towns can spread the tax burden over far greater tax bases.

"While tax increases are never desired, the city of Elmhurst continues to provide significant value," Talluto said.

No one else spoke.

The City Council then proceeded to its vote. Aldermen James Nudera and Jennifer Veremis were absent.

In January, Talluto said the finance committee plans to thoroughly review the budget because of a projected imbalance over the next five years.

"The goal of this will be a balanced general fund with expenses matching revenues without the use of fund reserves," she said.

At a council meeting last month, Alderman Michael Bram and a couple of other aldermen argued for more budget cuts, saying action should be taken at that time. But their colleagues said such a discussion should occur in the finance committee.

In a Facebook post Tuesday, Bram said he would rather the entire council address the issue.

Bram made a couple of proposals:

• Removing properties from tax increment financing districts, or TIFs. In TIFs, growth in tax income is directed to improvements in the districts themselves. By releasing at least some properties, the city's part of the property tax bill can go to its operations.
• Directing a portion of the sales tax for stormwater projects to general operations. The city enacted the tax in 2023.