La Grange board approves 4.5% property tax levy after debate over leaving ‘money on the table’

The Village of La Grange Board of Trustees voted to approve the 2023 annual tax levy at 4.5% over the prior year’s extension, rather than adopting the maximum permitted amount.

The vote followed a request to remove the levy ordinance from the consent agenda for separate discussion. Trustee Augustine and Trustee Thompson warned that routinely taking less than the full levy could leave the village short of funds for future capital needs including flood mitigation and pipe replacement; Thompson said, "I just think it's wrong that we're not taking the vote." The board ultimately approved the ordinance by a 4–2 margin.

Katie Allen, president of the La Grange Library Board, told trustees the library aligned its request with the village and cautioned about lost opportunities if the village and library do not take full levies: "it is money left on the table." Allen said the library has capital needs for maintenance as its building approaches 20 years and that additional levy dollars would help address those needs.

Village staff had earlier noted that the proposed levy includes a 0.4% component to capture new growth and that the La Grange Public Library is a separate government entity whose levy is included in the village's extension. Trustees who supported the 4.5% figure emphasized the board’s desire to limit upward pressure on residents’ property tax bills; supporters said the village seeks to balance fiscal responsibility with future capital planning.

The ordinance provides the village’s tax levy for the fiscal year May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024. President Kugler recorded that the motion passed 4–2 and said he would have voted in favor if he had the opportunity.

Next steps: the levy ordinance will be processed as part of the village’s tax extension and related bookkeeping; no further public hearing comments were recorded at the meeting.