Hernandez Passes Legislation to Address Berwyn Property Tax Crisis, Increase Transparency

BERWYN, Ill. – In an effort to address increased property taxes in Berwyn and ensure taxing bodies are being fully transparent, state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, passed legislation that would require new referendums to clearly state the specific dollar amount taxing bodies are seeking from local taxpayers.

“I understand the frustration of the Berwyn South School District when it comes to the funding they desperately need. That’s why I’ve worked to provide an additional five million dollars in funding for our local public schools over the last two years,” Hernandez said. “However, this referendum has hurt working families in our community who simply cannot afford higher taxes.”

The Berwyn South School District requested a levy of $17 million beginning in the 2017 property tax year, which required a referendum approved tax increase of 0.6%. A majority of voters approved the referendum, establishing a new levy of the school district’s taxable property. However, due to general reassessments, the total equalized assessed value (EAV) increased by more than 20%, which means the school district is set to receive about $2.5 million more than what they anticipated. As a result, local homeowners are seeing substantially higher property taxes than what they believed they were voting on.

Hernandez’s Senate Bill 3430 is an essential government reform that will prevent crises like these from ever happening again. By requiring taxing bodies to be clear about how much money they are asking for in future referendums, local taxpayers will be empowered to make fully informed decisions at the ballot box.

“There are ways in the new funding formula for school districts to apply for more funding from the state to prevent local property tax increases,” Hernandez said. “I look forward to working with Berwyn South to ensure they get the resources they need and making sure property taxes are reigned in.”