By Townhall Chicago News Staff
Maine Township High School District 207 on Wednesday posted a formal notice of a proposed property tax increase that would raise the district’s total levy by 3.13 percent for the 2026 tax year.
The notice, required under Illinois law before a taxing body can approve a levy exceeding 105 percent of the prior year’s extension, sets a public hearing for Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. at the district’s Administration Center, 1177 South Dee Road in Park Ridge.
The proposed total property tax levy for 2026 is $180,835,800, up from $175,348,385 extended or abated for 2025, according to the notice. That represents an increase of roughly $5.5 million.
The bulk of the increase falls under corporate and special purpose taxes, which would rise 3.47 percent to $163,615,800, up from $158,121,852 in 2025. Property taxes for debt service and public building commission leases would decrease slightly by 0.02 percent, dropping to $13,590,000 from $13,592,213.
District 207 serves approximately 6,000 students across three high schools: Maine South in Park Ridge, Maine East in Park Ridge and Maine West in Des Plaines. The district also draws students from Niles, Glenview, Morton Grove and other northwest suburban communities in Cook County.
Homeowners in the district already face some of the highest property tax burdens in Illinois. Cook County property owners have long contended with overlapping tax levies from municipalities, school districts, park districts and other taxing bodies.
Any person wishing to present testimony at the Dec. 7 hearing may contact Virginia Edwards, secretary of the Board of Education, at the Administration Center. The district’s phone number is (847) 696-3600.
The proposed increase comes as school districts across the state balance rising operational costs against taxpayer resistance to higher levies. Illinois school districts rely heavily on local property taxes for funding, a dynamic that has fueled long-running debates over education funding equity and tax relief.
The notice does not detail how the additional revenue would be spent. District 207’s board will vote on the final levy following the public hearing. The board is not required to adopt the full proposed amount and may reduce the levy based on public input.
The district posted the tax notice alongside other recent news, including an announcement about Future Ready Week and student recognition programs at its three high schools.
