LM Nov-Dec_2023

Property Tax Relief Grant Benefits, Strategies, & Recommendations

Dr. Nate Schilling Superintendent, Lansing SD #158

History & Impact In fiscal year 2019, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) started a new grant program designed to support public learning organizations with local property tax relief. Allocating approximately $50 million in the first year of implementation to 28 school districts from a total of 373 applicants, this has been a meaningful and impactful program in Lansing SD #158 (D158) that we have taken advantage of the past six years. With the Property Tax Relief Grant (PTRG) authorized again in fiscal year 2024 for a two-year cycle through 2025, our taxpayers stand to benefit from a grand total of $15.6 million abated back to the community over seven years! Inspection of local tax bills shows a nominal increase—for some residents, only $20 or less—from last year while maintaining a noticeable increase in revenues. The gold

bar in Figure 1 shows our estimated tax extension if D158 receives the PTRG again this year, which is just slightly more than fiscal year 2017. This, and the blue and green bars, are what local taxpayers are covering. However, PTRG monies from the state continue to significantly increase overall revenue streams (shown in purple) without placing this burden substantially on our community. This graph was created by Mark D. Crotty, Assistant Superintendent for Business & Operations, and presented to our Board of Education at their November 15, 2023 regular meeting during discussion of this year’s tax levy. D158 has been able to levy less some years due to the additional revenues provided by PTRG. Additionally, the fiscal year 2023 and 2024 cycles of the grant have been for two years each—resulting in overlap from the previous PTRG (shown in 2022 and 2023 in purple) and twice the state financial

Tax Extension Figure 1: D158 tax extension showing impact of PTRG on revenues compared to responsibility of local taxpayers.

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