La Grange Board Approves Tax Levy Increase

 While no one on La Grange's Village Board wanted to raise taxes on residents at Monday night's Village Board meeting, they ultimately voted 4-2 to approve a 2.47 percent tax levy increase.

While any tax increase is likely to sting a little, most residents will only see a slight increase in their tax bills. A home with a $400,000 market value will see taxes raised $19.51—the village portion will increase $14.36 and the library portion will increase $4.79.

Trustee Michael Horvath told the board he thought that further cost containment at the village could be used to avoid having residents taxes go up, and said he'd like to see the board limit the increase to only the amount for new property values.

"I would like to see the village not raise taxes," Horvath said. "I know we’re into a tough economic time and staff has gone into a cost containment mode. I’d like to hold the levy at last year's amount."

The other trustees on the board said they agreed with Horvath and would also like to see the board not raise taxes on La Grange residents, but asked where he thought the village would be able to get the additional funds they need.

"Did you have suggestions where we raise that extra money?" Trustee Bill Holder asked. "I'm all for paying less myself. Where are the saving coming from?"

Trustee Mark Kuchler also inquired as to where the board would be able to further trim excesses from in order to not raise taxes.

“I’m not sure anyone can suggest where there’s a whole lot of fat,” Kuchler said.

Kuchler said the board could likely find other areas of cost containment, but Village staff was already doing a lot to cut costs.

Trustee Jeff Nowak agreed and said that residents of La Grange have come to expect a high level of services from the village and said he would support the increase, as it wasn't unreasonable.

Village president Elizabeth Asperger said she agreed with others on the board and thought it would be hard to find areas where the Village could make additional, significant cuts. She and Kuchler both warned the village should avoid dipping into Village reserves, which it had to do this year.

Ultimately trustees Horvath and Palermo voted against the tax levy with the rest of the board supporting it in a vote of 4-2 for approval.