Here’s what your DeKalb school district 2024 property tax bill could look like

DeKALB – The DeKalb School District 428 Board this week gave a final nod to its 2024 property tax levy of $84 million.

However, the total is only an estimate, and the final figure won’t be available to school officials until March, when assessed property values are finalized.

Armir Doka, the district’s director of business and finance, said the district has done its part to bring savings to taxpayers.

“I think really the main point is that we are working with all these discounts to provide that taxpayer relief,” Doka said. “We know families are hurting, so whatever we can discount, [we tried]. However, at the same time, we want to make sure that we have the funds for our obligations also to run next year’s services.”

Unanimous action taken by the school board could prompt taxpayers who live in DeKalb to save $6 on the district’s portion of their spring tax bills. The school district will levy for about $84 million in property tax revenue at a 0.048 tax rate, documents show.

School officials unanimously supported an $84 million property tax levy plan after reviewing several different scenarios and what they had to offer.

Doka said the district faced a swath of appeals this past spring, prompting it to amend its tax rate to hold the line on the effect of the property tax levy on taxpayers.

It remains unclear how many appeals may be on the horizon this upcoming spring.

Doka said the tax levy enables the district to create a cushion to be good stewards and protect the interests of taxpayers at the same time.

“From last year’s perspective, there were a large number of appeals where we had to go back to the board in April to further abate to reach that desired tax rate,” Doka said. “At this point, it shows a scenario that allows some cushion in case there is a lot of appeals. That way, I can come back to the board and mention that, ‘Hey, we’ve had many appeals. We may have to discount to achieve the tax rate we desire.‘”