District 225 Board Urged to Freeze Student Fees

In an economic climate that continues to be tough on families, District 225 administrators are advising that the board of education vote to freeze student fees at current levels.

District 225, which includes and high schools, has not raised student fees for transportation for the past three years. It also offers a 50 percent discount for the cost of an additional sibling riding the bus.

“In response to current economic conditions, the administration is recommending no increase in student fees, as well as maintaining the current 50 percent bus rider discount for transportation,” Assistant Superintendent for Business Affairs Hilarie Siena said in a press release.

If the board of education votes not to raise student fees, the cost of driver’s education, parking stickers, towels, materials, instrument rental, credit card convenience charges as well as transportation would remain unaffected, according to the release.

The board will vote on whether or not to raise fees at its next meeting, March 14.

“These economic times impact our families and so we feel that it is important to do the best we can do to keep costs low and yet still be fiscally responsible to the taxpayers,” board president Skip Shein said in the release.

Earlier this year, the board of education of 4.7 percent for 2010. Under Cook County law, school districts may not increase property taxes by 5 percent or the current Consumer Price Index (2.7 percent) without placing a referendum before voters.

District 225’s levy takes advantage of the maximum allowable increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as well as an additional percentage that will capture any possible tax revenue from new properties.

Just because the levy increase is set at 4.7 percent, does not mean that District 225 will get 4.7 percent more in property tax revenue. Only the part of that levy based on the CPI is guaranteed, while the rest is dependent on how much new growth there is in the area.