Lisle Library Tax Per Capita Among Highest in Chicago Region

Lisle Watchdog takes a look at how the local property tax per capita of the Lisle Library compares to other libraries in the Chicago region.

Data was obtained from the Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian for the 2011 year.

Libraries in Chicago Metro Area communities with populations below 8,000 people were excluded from the comparative study.

Of 163 libraries, the Lisle Library ranks #18 (top 11%) in highest property tax per capita.

Library Name	Population	Property  Taxes	Tax per Capita
LA GRANGE PUBLIC LIBRARY	15550	3,676,433	236.4
GLENCOE PUBLIC LIBRARY	8723	1,912,316	219.2
WINNETKA-NORTHFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	17357	3,747,336	215.9
PROSPECT HEIGHTS PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	14073	2,870,487	204.0
WILMETTE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	27087	5,284,264	195.1
LINCOLNWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	12590	2,432,466	193.2
ELK GROVE VILLAGE PUBLIC LIBRARY	22104	4,266,416	193.0
ELA AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	34462	6,189,313	179.6
LAKE FOREST LIBRARY	19375	3,335,229	172.1
NORTHBROOK PUBLIC LIBRARY	33170	5,641,504	170.1
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS MEMORIAL LIBRARY	75101	12,769,650	170.0
SKOKIE PUBLIC LIBRARY	64784	10,595,269	163.5
DEERFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY	18225	2,877,869	157.9
WOOD DALE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	13166	2,060,132	156.5
EISENHOWER PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	23184	3,617,357	156.0
VERNON AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	41055	6,401,571	155.9
ELMHURST PUBLIC LIBRARY	44121	6,727,404	152.5
LISLE LIBRARY DISTRICT	28504	4,241,916	148.8
MOUNT PROSPECT PUBLIC LIBRARY	54167	8,035,845	148.4
MATTESON PUBLIC LIBRARY	19009	2,800,000	147.3
ITASCA COMMUNITY LIBRARY	8649	1,272,490	147.1
OAK PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY	51878	7,608,404	146.7
HINSDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY	16816	2,388,850	142.1
GENEVA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	30505	4,326,045	141.8
BARRINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	44157	6,097,099	138.1
HIGHLAND PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY	29763	4,080,195	137.1
FLOSSMOOR PUBLIC LIBRARY	9464	1,288,928	136.2
PALOS HEIGHTS PUBLIC LIBRARY	12515	1,703,299	136.1
FOUNTAINDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	67683	9,070,547	134.0
ALGONQUIN AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	40809	5,384,173	131.9
GLENVIEW PUBLIC LIBRARY	44692	5,765,004	129.0
NILES PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	57284	7,274,238	127.0
COOK MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	59842	7,528,328	125.8
ROLLING MEADOWS LIBRARY	24099	3,030,308	125.7
HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	19323	2,398,449	124.1
BLOOMINGDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY	22018	2,655,042	120.6
WAUCONDA AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	27246	3,185,601	116.9
GLEN ELLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY	27450	3,200,726	116.6
FREMONT PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	37499	4,325,224	115.3
LAGRANGE PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	13579	1,537,761	113.2
BATAVIA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	26562	2,990,099	112.6
COAL CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	11257	1,255,809	111.6
HILLSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY	8157	907,476	111.3
FOREST PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY	14167	1,559,631	110.1
LAKE VILLA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	40276	4,356,854	108.2
ADDISON PUBLIC LIBRARY	36942	3,933,489	106.5
PARK RIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY	37480	3,977,037	106.1
MOKENA COMMUNITY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	20539	2,173,928	105.8
MORTON GROVE PUBLIC LIBRARY	23270	2,457,382	105.6
OAK BROOK PUBLIC LIBRARY	7883	826,648	104.9
RIVERSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY	8875	928,902	104.7
SCHAUMBURG TOWNSHIP DISTRICT LIBRARY	126849	13,231,742	104.3
GRAYSLAKE AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	28172	2,931,707	104.1
SAINT CHARLES PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	55092	5,712,460	103.7
DES PLAINES PUBLIC LIBRARY	58364	5,750,062	98.5
WOODRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY	32971	3,176,396	96.3
CRYSTAL LAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY	40743	3,921,844	96.3
GLENWOOD-LYNWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	17976	1,693,167	94.2
BROOKFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY	18978	1,765,243	93.0
TOWN AND COUNTRY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	12392	1,133,345	91.5
NAPERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY	141853	12,897,369	90.9
CRETE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	18086	1,624,132	89.8
GAIL BORDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	144597	12,973,863	89.7
FOX LAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	25284	2,267,364	89.7
BROADVIEW PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	7932	706,695	89.1
RIVER FOREST PUBLIC LIBRARY	11172	991,522	88.8
INDIAN TRAILS PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	67010	5,935,301	88.6
CAROL STREAM PUBLIC LIBRARY	39711	3,452,544	86.9
TINLEY PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY	56703	4,899,572	86.4
ANTIOCH PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	26111	2,249,337	86.1
OAK LAWN PUBLIC LIBRARY	56690	4,867,940	85.9
VILLA PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY	21904	1,848,338	84.4
DOWNERS GROVE PUBLIC LIBRARY	47833	4,003,756	83.7
CHICAGO RIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY	14305	1,192,671	83.4
GLENSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	36259	3,013,649	83.1
MESSENGER PUBLIC LIBRARY OF NORTH AURORA	16760	1,392,367	83.1
WARREN-NEWPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	66690	5,467,006	82.0
WARRENVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	13551	1,090,466	80.5
PARK FOREST PUBLIC LIBRARY	21975	1,757,663	80.0
PLANO COMMUNITY LIBRARY DISTRICT	13107	1,001,840	76.4
NORTHLAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	26658	2,028,942	76.1
MAYWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	24090	1,815,021	75.3
GREEN HILLS PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	31533	2,357,084	74.7
BRIDGEVIEW PUBLIC LIBRARY	16446	1,226,394	74.6
THOMAS FORD MEMORIAL LIBRARY	12975	966,799	74.5
ELMWOOD PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY	24883	1,838,604	73.9
ROSELLE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	22791	1,643,851	72.1
WINFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY	9080	652,122	71.8
WESTMONT PUBLIC LIBRARY	24685	1,766,270	71.6
POPLAR CREEK PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	66306	4,723,814	71.2
FRANKLIN PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	18333	1,302,902	71.1
HUNTLEY AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	39023	2,766,977	70.9
MCHENRY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	42023	2,970,994	70.7
LANSING PUBLIC LIBRARY	28331	1,993,423	70.4
INDIAN PRAIRIE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	42529	2,979,116	70.0
SOUTH HOLLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY	22030	1,510,490	68.6
WEST CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	29924	2,049,299	68.5
PALATINE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	88983	6,085,780	68.4
BARTLETT PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	37555	2,558,233	68.1
HELEN M. PLUM MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	43160	2,928,212	67.8
BENSENVILLE COMMUNITY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	21409	1,393,937	65.1
MIDLOTHIAN PUBLIC LIBRARY	14819	950,679	64.2
LEMONT PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	21685	1,390,245	64.1
FRANKFORT PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	30484	1,948,328	63.9
STICKNEY-FOREST VIEW PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	10412	656,934	63.1
CARY AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	28245	1,778,965	63.0
ORLAND PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY	56767	3,542,186	62.4
WESTCHESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY	16718	1,041,130	62.3
ALSIP-MERRIONETTE PARK LIBRARY DISTRICT	22280	1,382,233	62.0
ROUND LAKE AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	40400	2,466,167	61.0
WORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	10789	657,474	60.9
OSWEGO PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	58871	3,477,155	59.1
WHEATON PUBLIC LIBRARY	52894	3,100,000	58.6
KANKAKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY	27537	1,590,421	57.8
RICHTON PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	13646	783,279	57.4
MARKHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY	12508	644,800	51.6
SCHILLER PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY	11793	607,651	51.5
AURORA PUBLIC LIBRARY	197899	10,194,727	51.5
BLUE ISLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY	23706	1,213,094	51.2
PRAIRIE TRAILS PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	30031	1,524,271	50.8
EVANSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY	74486	3,774,353	50.7
LYONS PUBLIC LIBRARY	10729	541,570	50.5
MANHATTAN-ELWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	13166	652,976	49.6
BELLWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY	19071	941,401	49.4
NIPPERSINK PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	11188	552,010	49.3
HOMER TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	39059	1,852,683	47.4
BRADLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	13295	619,765	46.6
DES PLAINES VALLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	77893	3,538,829	45.4
FOSSIL RIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	14803	671,297	45.3
HARVEY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	25282	1,127,795	44.6
SUMMIT PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	11054	488,072	44.2
BERWYN PUBLIC LIBRARY	56657	2,497,312	44.1
SHOREWOOD-TROY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	19235	827,080	43.0
JOHNSBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	12421	533,468	42.9
ZION-BENTON PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	42403	1,799,502	42.4
DUNDEE TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	69338	2,912,435	42.0
EVERGREEN PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY	19852	829,542	41.8
NEW LENOX PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	36847	1,525,410	41.4
ELLA JOHNSON MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	16669	677,654	40.7
GRANDE PRAIRIE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	30641	1,239,056	40.4
THREE RIVERS PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	26600	1,072,750	40.3
YORKVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY	16921	680,750	40.2
WAUKEGAN PUBLIC LIBRARY	89078	3,559,204	40.0
RIVERDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	13549	540,155	39.9
DOLTON PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	23153	919,954	39.7
MARENGO-UNION LIBRARY DISTRICT	13933	546,843	39.2
JOLIET PUBLIC LIBRARY	147433	5,639,492	38.3
WOODSTOCK PUBLIC LIBRARY	24770	944,252	38.1
MORRIS AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	18501	700,103	37.8
PLAINFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	75337	2,829,881	37.6
MELROSE PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY	25411	947,437	37.3
RIVER GROVE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	10227	358,961	35.1
MANTENO PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	12432	416,564	33.5
SUGAR GROVE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	15761	505,501	32.1
BOURBONNAIS PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	24242	698,282	28.8
PEOTONE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	16006	447,765	28.0
STEGER-SOUTH CHICAGO HEIGHTS PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	13709	350,517	25.6
NANCY L. MCCONATHY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	10497	266,105	25.4
ACORN PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	37332	933,056	25.0
JUSTICE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT	13707	275,468	20.1
CICERO PUBLIC LIBRARY	83891	1,528,259	18.2
NORTH CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY	32574	590,700	18.1
CALUMET CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY	37042	655,081	17.7

Meet "Mr. Smith"

Mr. Smith" is an 81 yr old Lisle resident and taxpayer. He has lived here a long time. He knows a lot of people in town, so, he asked that his "real name" not be used in this story.

"Mr. Smith" is one of the senior citizens in Lisle who has seen a 28% increase in his property tax bill in the past 3 years. 

"Mr. Smith" qualified for, and received, a senior freeze exemption, a senior homestead exemption, and a homeowner's exemption on his property tax bill. 

"Mr. Smith," like many seniors, lives on a fixed income. In order to qualify for a senior freeze, he submits an affidavit every year that his household income is below the threshold. He derives his income mostly from social security and some interest on savings and investments. He does not collect a pension. 

"Mr. Smith" says that his social security payment went up less than 2% this past year for cost of living increase, (up about $500/yr) but the cost of his Medicare supplement insurance went up, as did the cost of water, the cost of gasoline, food and his property tax bill. His income from interest has dropped, too, over recent years since interest rates fell.   

"Mr. Smith" has cut back on other expenditures and if the housing market were better, he says he would consider selling his home.  

In 2010, "Mr. Smith" paid his 2009 property tax bill of $4,245. 
This year, he paid $5,425 in property taxes - 27.8% more.

Just this past year, "Mr. Smith" has seen a 9.1% increase in his property tax bill - from $4,975 to $5,425.  Property taxes alone more than ate up the small annual increase in his social security payment. He had been using his savings to pay for everyday costs that have increased. He worries about having enough money to live in his home for another 10-15 years.

Below you will find a summary of "Mr. Smith's" property tax increases from 2009 to 2012. 

Just reminder, the property tax is billed and due the year after the assessed year - the 2012 property tax was due in 2013. 


Tax Year 2012
$ 307,000 Fair Cash Value
$ 102,330 Equalized Value
$     6,000 Residential Exemption
$     4,000 Senior Exemption
$   21,750 Senior Freeze Exemption
$   70,580 Net Taxable Value
     7.6868 Tax Rate
$   5,425 Tax Due    


Tax Year 2011

$ 326,400 Fair Cash Value
$ 108,800 Equalized Value
$     6,000 Residential Exemption
$     4,000 Senior Exemption
$   28,220 Senior Freeze Exemption
$   70,580 Net Taxable Value
     7.0482 Tax Rate
$   4,975 Tax Due   


Tax Year 2010

$ 348,120 Fair Cash Value
$ 116,040 Equalized Value
$     6,000 Residential Exemption
$     4,000 Senior Exemption
$   35,460 Senior Freeze Exemption
$   70,580 Net Taxable Value
     6.5662 Tax Rate
$   4,634  Tax Due  


Tax Year 2009

$ 366,410 Fair Cash Value
$ 122,140 Equalized Value
$     6,000 Residential Exemption
$     4,000 Senior Exemption
$   41,560 Senior Freeze Exemption
$   70,580 Net Taxable Value
     6.0138 Tax Rate
$   4,245  Tax Due  


When asked if he has contacted any local elected officials with his concerns about property taxes, "Mr. Smith" sighed and said that over the years he has come to learn that they simply don't care, don't listen and don't act. He said that he was very disturbed when an elected board laughed and belittled a long-time friend who expressed his concerns at a meeting about another issue a few years ago. 

"Society doesn't respect seniors these days, at least not in the way I was taught as a kid."  - Mr. Smith.  


Tax Rates:

• 2012   7.6868
• 2011   7.0482
• 2010   6.5662
• 2009   6.0138

Property assessments for 2013 will be lowered 3.75% across the board in Lisle Township. But since "Mr. Smith" is on senior freeze, he will see another hefty increase in property taxes unless all the taxing bodies reduce their tax levies to maintain a flat tax rate. 

(Note: Slight adjustments were made to the numbers to protect "Mr. Smith's" identity and privacy at his request. The information was obtained and verified by the DuPage County Treasurer's Office website tax database. LINK HERE) 
 - originally posted October 1, 2013 on Lisle Patch