ELMHURST, IL – The information in this story may be used in later political attack ads.
Opposition researchers may see this week’s decision to hike Elmhurst’s tax levy as great political fodder.
Aldermen voted to raise the tax levy for the city government and library by $720,000, to $20.8 million. That’s a 3.6 percent hike.
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In the recent campaign for District 45 state representative, Alderwoman Marti Deuter, a Democrat, took heat in mailers from the Republican Party for previous tax levy and water rate increases.
The truth, though, is that Republican state representative candidate Dennis Reboletti’s allies on the council voted for the same hikes.
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In Elmhurst, the city’s portion of the property tax goes entirely to the police and fire departments and their employees’ pensions.
The city and the library only take about 10 percent of the property tax bill, while the local school district consumes three-quarters of it.
According to a city memo, the inflation rate from 2018 to 2023 was 22 percent, while the city’s levy has gone up 11 percent.
“What this means is that the city of Elmhurst is quite responsible with the funds it receives while continuing to provide superior service to its residents,” Alderwoman Noel Talluto said.
The council voted 10-0 for the tax levy increase. Absent were aldermen Deuter, Brian Cahill, Tina Park and Rex Irby.
On Nov. 5, Deuter defeated Reboletti with 53.5 percent of the vote. She said she plans to resign by year’s end.
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