At the December 16th Park Board Meeting, the Park Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance for the levy of property taxes for the calendar year 2022. The ordinance provides a 5.76% increase from the actual property taxes collected for the Park District in 2020. The request with Lake County is for $12,381,667 in property taxes. The Park District’s portion of residents’ property tax bill is approximately 6.9%.

The 2022 Park District tax levy includes a combination of a 1.4% Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase in its “tax capped funds,” new growth estimated to be approximately $22 million, and an increase in the Special Recreation Fund levy from .0245% to .04%. The Special Recreation Fund is used for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) capital improvements, member fees for the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA), and to provide complimentary program inclusion aides for participants with special needs.

In 2021, the Park District did not increase its tax levy to provide relief for residents during the height of the pandemic. Operations were adjusted while providing safe and healthy recreational outlets. The Park Board felt it was the Park District’s responsibility to do more for our residents struggling with the financial ramifications of the pandemic. As the country and our community have slowly recovered, the Park District is now in full operation, and in many cases, seeing a record number of residents seeking recreational programs and services.