Elmhurst Wants $1M More From Taxpayers

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst aldermen are poised to raise the city's property levy by $1 million, the first major hike in years.

It would mean a $56 increase for the owner of a $500,000 house, the city said.

Earlier this month, the four aldermen on the finance committee – Noel Talluto, James Nudera, Jacob Hill and Dan Virgil – recommended the levy hike for next year.

In a memo, they noted a dire budget forecast for the next five years. Each year, spending is expected to grow 3.6 percent and income 2.9 percent, leaving a gap.

A big factor is health insurance costs, which are set to go up $1 million next year. That is because of catastrophic claims and GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, according to the memo.

Earlier this month, the City Council enacted next year's budget with $3.6 million in spending cuts. Finance committee members Hill and Virgil pushed for even more reductions, which the 14-member council's majority rejected.

According to a city analysis, Elmhurst has the third-lowest tax rate among 34 DuPage County municipalities. (The analysis was controlled for fire districts.)

But what the memo did not say was that the wealthiest towns, such as Hinsdale and Burr Ridge, typically had the lowest rates. That's because property-rich towns can spread the tax burden over far greater tax bases.

The council plans to review the tax levy at its meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

Meanwhile, Elmhurst School District 205 is considering seeking $5.3 million more from taxpayers next year. The district makes up nearly three-fourths of the property tax bill.