Evanstonians Push Back Against Proposed $4.4M Property Tax Hike

EVANSTON, IL — As the City of Evanston considers hiking its property tax levy for the first time in two years, city residents are asking city officials to tighten the belt on its proposed 2024 budget before asking homeowners to pay more themselves.

Residents expressed concern to City Council members during a special Truth In Taxation hearing on Monday night when a proposed increase of nearly 8 percent that is included in the proposed budget for next year was discussed. Although the city hasn’t raised property taxes over the past two years, residents who spoke at Monday night’s hearing said that the city has a spending problem rather than an issue with drawing enough revenue.

The proposed budget lays out a $449 million plan, which represents a hike of nearly $52 million from 2023. If property taxes were to be raised at the proposed increase of 7.9 percent, residents would be facing an increase of $4.4 million, which would be designated for more city jobs, according to the proposed 2024 budget.

Some residents suggested that the city should look at “sharpening the pencil” rather than asking residents to pay higher property taxes. Others suggested that other Evanston entities such as Northwestern University and local hospitals needed to be better community partners rather than the city coming to residents to cover a budget that one resident, Mary Rosinski called “outrageous.”

Other residents said that Evanston needed to look to places like Northwestern, which is hoping to renovate its football stadium to host more concerts to generate more money for the school. However, residents who oppose the Ryan Field renovation say that funding coming from bigger concerts and other events should be going to the city rather than to the university as a way to help cover some of the budget concerns raised on Monday night.

Residents who spoke at the hearing said that Evanston is already a difficult place for middle-class residents to call home based on its current property tax rate. If that rate were to increase, some fear that some who live in the city may be forced to look at other neighboring communities for more affordable living.

“I don’t think Evanston government operates very efficiently. It doesn’t seem to be designed to help the residents,” Evanston resident Michael Vasilko said.

“(You’re) driving the middle class out of Evanston and I know I’m in that camp.”

Trisha Connolly said that while she appreciated a budget that included fully funded pensions for police officers and firefighters in addition to the fact there hadn't been a rate increase for two years. But Connolly's praise stopped there.

“That being said, this budget negates it all," Connolly said. "I would really encourage all of you to take a strong hard look at that and really consider what can we do on the front end to minimize increases, rather than present something to the community that’s all about the kitchen sink.”

Ald. Devon Reid (8th Ward) said that the city had to get back to a strategy of making wise investments that will be beneficial in the long run. He asked residents in attendance and who are asking for the council to tighten its financial belt what services should be cut in order to get to a budget that is more community-friendly.

He asked whether residents wanted to see trash and recycling pick-up schedules changed, or whether residents wanted fewer police officers or firefighters.

Rosinski, for one, suggested that other areas needed to be addressed rather than services being cut, which is a big asset that brings people to Evanston to live.

Rather than cut services, Reid suggested the city take a different approach.

“Just as a municipal philosophy, we need to get back to the days of making investments in public goods that raise the value of our community wholistically,” Reid said. “I think Robert Crown (Community Center) is an example of that, I think a new civic center is an example of that, a nice, modern police department would be an example of that. These are all public goods.

“When we spend the money, and we make the investment up front, I think it pays dividends in the long run.”

Ald. Clare Kelly (1st Ward) also called for the city to look at how it can cut spending in the proposed budget – which is a bump of 13 percent from last year. But like Reid, Kelly did not offer specific ways for that to happen but suggested that the city need to adjust where it spent money.

Among the increased spending are raises for a variety of city workers who will see raises of between 11 and 18 percent in the new year, according to the proposed budget.

How much of the burden property owners will bear remains to be determined. In a presentation made to the council during Monday’s hearing, Evanston Chief Financial Officer Hitesh Desai said that the city’s property tax rate remains low comparative to other local communities.

Desai pointed to Fiscal Year 2022, which was the last time the city was seeking an increase in property taxes. A chart comparing Evanston to other suburban areas showed that the city ranked 12th of 13 communities listed, with only Wilmette paying a lower rate of taxes. Evanston’s property tax ranked just below Lincolnwood and Niles and was among only a few communities where the rate was less than 9 percent.

Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma said he was frankly surprised by the comparison and said that he understands residents’ frustrations and the reputation Evanston has of being an expensive place to call home.

“I got my property tax bill the other day too, and oh my goodness, we are certainly paying a lot to live in this community,” Nieuwsma said.