New Lenox SD 122 Homeowners Face Estimated 3.4% Tax Hike Under Tentative Levy

New Lenox School District 122 Meeting | October 21, 2025

Article Summary: The New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education has approved a tentative 2025 property tax levy that projects a 6.06% increase over the previous year’s extension, which would result in an estimated $173 annual increase for a home with a market value of $450,000.

Tentative 2025 Tax Levy Key Points:

• The total proposed levy for 2025 is $75,861,367, a 6.06% increase over the 2024 tax extension.

• The estimated operating tax extension is projected to be $61.1 million, a 4.7% increase, driven by inflation and new property growth.

• A homeowner with a $450,000 market value home is projected to see their district property tax bill increase by approximately $173, or 3.4%.

• A public hearing on the proposed levy is scheduled for November 18, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

NEW LENOX, IL – The New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, approved a tentative property tax levy for 2025 totaling $75,861,367, representing a 6.06% increase over the amount extended in 2024.

Business Manager Robert Groos presented the levy, explaining that property tax revenue, which accounts for over 80% of the district’s operating funds, is critical to financial sustainability. The proposed increase is based on several key factors, including a 2.9% rate of inflation (CPI), an estimated 6.25% increase in the value of existing properties in New Lenox, and approximately $37 million in new property development.

The operating portion of the levy is expected to increase by 4.7%, from $58.4 million in 2024 to an estimated $61.1 million in 2025. For the owner of a home with a market value of $450,000, this is projected to result in an approximate $173 increase on the school district portion of their 2025 tax bill.

The district’s proposed “capped levy” request is $61,849,765, slightly higher than the expected extension. Groos explained this “balloon levy” is a standard practice that allows the district to capture revenue from any new property growth that exceeds initial estimates from Will County. Any extra amount requested on the levy is ultimately eliminated by the County Clerk once final property values are certified.

The board will hold a public hearing on the tax levy at its next meeting on November 18, 2025, before voting to adopt the final version.