Tax Caps Make Referendums A Requirement

The Illinois legislature in 1994 imposed tax caps to increase accountability for taxing bodies requiring voter approval for any property tax rate increase.

These tax caps limit revenue increases for all suburban school districts in Cook County to the lesser of CPI (a measure of inflation) or 5%.

In the past five years, River Forest District 90's revenues from property taxes have been capped at an average of 2.5% while expenses have increased at 6.6% annually.

Factors accounting for this increase are rising health care costs, state and federal mandates, salaries, increased enrollment and rising energy and utility costs.

The last referendum passed in 1998. At that time, it was projected that adequate funding would be available until 2003. Due to sound fiscal management, the school board delayed the need for this referendum an additional three years.