Park Forest officials announced this week that the Village will not increase its property tax levy for 2025, marking the sixth time in nine years the community has avoided a levy hike.
During Monday’s meeting, Finance Director Mark Pries presented the proposed levy to the Park Forest Board of Trustees, outlining how the Village will maintain a 0 percent increase despite rising costs in salaries, pensions, and village operations. A state-required public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Nov. 24 at Village Hall.
According to the notice of proposed property tax levy, Park Forest’s total taxes for 2024 were $22,339,185. The estimated levy for 2025 is $22,297,182 — a slight decrease of 0.19 percent from the previous year.
Pries explained that while initial projections showed the Village would need an additional $1,068,037 to cover 2025 operating costs, staff recommended using a portion of the General Fund’s unassigned reserves to offset that amount. The fund is expected to retain a 4.6-month balance after the transfer, which Pries said remains within financial guidelines.
“The Village is not increasing its levy, and taxpayers should see little to no change in the Village portion of their tax bill,” Pries told trustees.
Rising personnel and pension costs were major drivers in the original projected levy increase. The Village anticipates a 3.5 percent salary increase for employees, higher health insurance expenses, and actuarially required contributions to Police and Fire pensions. Those pension funds will be fully funded at the state-recommended levels, Pries said.
The Library’s levy will also remain flat at $1,624,429 — the same as its 2024 request.
Village officials noted that Park Forest’s long-term fiscal strategy has kept increases far below those of nearby tax-capped communities. From 2017 to 2025, Park Forest’s levy grew a cumulative 4.35 percent, compared with 26 percent in neighboring municipalities subject to the state’s tax cap law.
While Pries said the Village may be able to hold the line again in 2026, he cautioned that continued 0 percent increases are unlikely to be sustainable long-term as operational costs continue to rise.
The Board is expected to vote on final adoption of the 2025 tax levy on Dec. 1.