Board Cautious on Abating $53,448 from 2025 Tax Levy

Crete-Monee School District 201-U Meeting | March 10, 2026

Article Summary: Facing an uncertain financial forecast and potential reductions in federal funding, Crete-Monee school officials are leaning against abating a $53,448 property tax adjustment.

Levy Abatement Key Points:

• The district has the option to abate a $53,448 levy adjustment designed to recover funds lost to property tax appeals.

• Refunding the money would save taxpayers a minimal amount per household.

• Board President Maurice Brown recommended keeping the funds to pad district reserves due to looming reductions in federal money and a lack of expiring TIF districts.

• The board will take final action on the levy adjustment at its March 16 meeting.

Prioritizing financial caution, the Crete-Monee School District 201-U Board of Education on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, indicated it will likely retain a minor property tax adjustment rather than refunding it to taxpayers.

Assistant Superintendent Jason Okrasinski informed the board that as the district finalizes its 2025 levy calculations with the Will County Clerk’s Office, it has the option to abate an adjustment of $53,448. The specific adjustment mechanism exists to make the district “whole” after losing revenue to successful property tax appeals filed by commercial or residential property owners.

Okrasinski noted that abating the funds would serve as a one-time relief to taxpayers and would not negatively impact the district’s base levy going forward.

However, Board President Maurice Brown strongly advocated against the abatement. He noted that while he personally pays significant property taxes and would appreciate any reduction, the $53,448 spread across the entire district equates to an incredibly small amount per household. Conversely, retaining the funds provides a necessary buffer for a district budget that exceeds $100 million.

“I don’t think things are going to get better for us revenue-wise over the next couple years,” Brown warned the board. “New construction, we don’t have any TIFs expiring. We probably… have seen a significant reduction in federal money now.”

The board reached a general consensus to heed the financial warning. A formal resolution to finalize the levy will be brought forward for a vote at the board’s March 16 regular meeting.