The Barrington School District 220 board was poised to vote at its Dec. 20 meeting on a 6.6% increase in the tax levy for 2022 to support operating revenues and construction overruns.
SD220 spokeswoman Samantha Scheinman said the district expects to receive a 5.6% tax levy increase over the current year but is requesting a 6.6% increase, in the event new construction costs are larger than expected.
Based upon projections, the total expected tax revenue to be approved this calendar year but collected in 2023, excluding bond and interest, will be $140 million, according to board information.
SD220 spans four counties and collects property taxes from each: Cook, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties. The property taxes account for an estimated 81% of the district’s operating revenues.
Scheinman said the board will not issue the debt service extension base this year due to high inflation impacting taxpayers, which is expected to save local taxpayers approximately $2.4 million, collectively, she said.
At the Dec. 6 school board meeting, the board approved the purchase of property at 1525 S. Grove Ave. to accommodate growing enrollment in the Barrington Transition Program. The program works with students on life skills after high school graduation.
“As we looked at enrollment and needs, we see a significant increase in enrollment over the next four years with those students, and they’re already at maximum capacity of space,” Superintendent Robert Hunt said during the meeting. “The unit next to them opened up. Dr. Bein secured a good price for that so we can move forward with the expansion of that program due to enrollment. It has a lot of room for us to prepare for enrollment.”
Currently, the Barrington Transition Program serves 16 students in a space with a five-year lease that started in May 2019. The current space, also at 1525 S. Grove Ave., is 1,658 square feet. According to data provided by Scheinman, enrollment is expected to increase to 20 students during the 2023-2024 school year and up to 26 students for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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