Park District Asks For Tax Increase On April 2 Ballot

TINLEY PARK, IL — Tinley's park district is asking voters to approve a 7-cent tax increase on the April 2 referendum ballot, and it is holding a series of town hall meeting to explain what that means for citizens.

The proposal is similar to one that voters defeated in 2018. However, this year, officials are posing it as a question of "cash or credit."

The referendum asks voters to increase the corporate tax rate by 7 cents to about 35 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation. If it is approved, officials said they would be able to retire debt related to the construction of the Tony Bettenhausen Recreation Centerby 2020.

Because of this, tax bills will decrease. The money raised from the referendum also will be used to pay for capital improvement and maintenance projects, officials said.

If voters say no, then the park district could borrow money using bonds to pay for those expenditures.

Either way, officials said, taxes will go down. This time, they added, voters get to determine how much

The meetings will be held throughout March:

Tony Bettenhausen Recreation Center
8125 W. 171st Street

Monday, March 4 7 p.m.
Tuesday, March 12 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 20 7 p.m.
Saturday,March 23 10 a.m.

Tinley Park Performing Arts Center
16801 S. 80th Avenue
Thursday, March 7 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 14 7 p.m.