Update, 11:35 p.m., Monday, Nov. 5, 2012

Orland School District 135 will be asking for more money from property owners for the next fiscal year, in order to cover costs associated with the latest teachers' contract.

The district will be asking for a three percent higher tax levy, which equates to about $1.9 million. The levy is equal to the Consumer Price Index, which in turn is the cap of how much school districts can additionally request in a tax levy per year. 

The most recent teachers' contract for D135 has salary increases tied to CPI, which is the main need for the levy, said D135 Asst. Supr. for Business Services John Reiniche, during Monday night's Committee of the Whole meeting.

"The whole design of the contract was how do we generate revenue to keep teachers and keep from getting into structural deficits," Reiniche said. "So that was the challenge of negotiations, to try to give the community long term sustainability."  

Board members Tom Cunningham, Mary Bragg, Tina Zekich, Ann Gentile and Board President John Carmody agreed to add the levy to the next regular meeting's agenda, for the purpose of formally voting on it at the Nov. 12 meeting.

Members Joe LaMargo and Lynne Donegan were against adding it to the agenda.

The proposed levy would cost the owner of a $250,000 home an additional $4.90 a month in property taxes, or about $60 a year.

LaMargo asked if any other means could be used to raise the money, because property owners can't pay more.

Cunningham said there won't be a way to continue covering the agreed-upon costs, unless cuts are made.

"Teachers matter to the people of this area," Cunningham said.

John Carmody also echoed that the only option other than a levy increase would be cuts.

"With cuts of transportation, withdrawing of grants, state and federal governments aren't funding us, we can either tax with CPI, or look at cutting band, volleyball, something," Carmody said.

Reiniche pointed out that last year's tax levies were compared against 25 other school districts, and D135's levy was the fourth lowest in the area.

Look at the attached .pdf for the full list of 2011 levies cited.

"We're going to have to do it," said Bragg, as the board gave their votes on including the tax levy in the next meeting's agenda.

The levy will be voted on at the Nov. 12 meeting.

Clarification: No offical vote occurred during the Committee of the Whole meeting. A consensus was asked about adding the tax levy to the next regular meeting's agenda.

Original Post, 5:58 a.m., Monday, Nov. 5, 2012

Orland School District 135 Board of Education members are meeting Monday night to discuss several facets relating to finance, buildings, personnel and board policies.

Among items scheduled will be an estimate of the district's upcoming tax levy request.

Look over the attached meeting notice for a list of what is scheduled to be discussed.

Orland Park Patch’s live blog through Cover It Live will provide minute-by-minute updates from the meeting on this page starting at 7 p.m. Look in the Cover It Live window, and you’ll see an area where you can join in and offer your comments and questions. The same rules apply as on finished articles on the site.

Leading up to the meeting, let me know if there's anything you particularly want to know about in the comments.

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