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The grant also adds to a district’s minimum base Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) amount the following fiscal year—increasing your foundation for future state financial support.

support in those years. Inasmuch, the net impact on both our district revenues and community has been positive and shifted the overall financial burden more to the state. I would highly encourage ISBE to continue offering and expanding this program if possible. Process & Suggestions Eligibility for PTRG is based on a legal formula (105 ILCS 5/2-3.170) that determines the highest unit equivalent tax rate compared to all applicant school districts. Although the number of applicants has decreased since 2018—down to 130 in fiscal year 2023—the number of recipients has increased (32 last year). Inasmuch, I would encourage all superintendents to consider submitting their school districts for consideration. PTRG is a comparative process so, depending on who applies, any learning organization could become eligible. Local property tax relief, regardless of where you are in the state, is always a positive. The grant also adds to a district’s minimum base Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) amount the following fiscal year—increasing your foundation for future state financial support. Also keep in mind that some local tax revenue will be returned to your residents due to certificates of error, appeals and other special circumstances. D158’s levy adjustments are shown in green (Figure 1) and PTRG has helped offset these losses.

PTRG requires a recipient school district to abate a certain amount of local property tax revenue back to the community in exchange for state dollars. This amount is usually equivalent to or slightly higher than the grant. In D158, we abated $1,866,567 in fiscal year 2023 to receive a PTRG of $1,822,758. The process includes an application through ISBE’s electronic system IWAS, for which they calculate the recommended tax abatement amount for you; a resolution with your Board of Education; and filings with the County Clerk and ISBE. Over six years, we have increased D158’s revenues and EBF floor through PTRG while simultaneously putting over $15 million (if approved this year) back into the Lansing community. I would highly encourage my superintendent colleagues to look into this program if you haven’t already— especially with the most current two-grant cycles overlapping and doubling the relief to your taxpayers—as well as ISBE to continue offering this meaningful opportunity.

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