Mokena 159 Board Approves Tentative $22.5 Million Tax Levy, Increase Triggers Public Hearing

Mokena School District 159 Meeting | November 19, 2025

Article Summary: The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education has given initial approval to a tentative 2025 property tax levy of $22,500,500, representing a 5.88% increase over the previous year’s extension. Because the proposed increase exceeds 105% of the 2024 extension, the district is legally required to hold a public “Truth in Taxation” hearing before final adoption.

2025 Tax Levy Key Points:

• Total Proposed Levy: $22,500,500, a 5.88% increase over the 2024 extension of $21,251,110.

• Corporate & Special Purpose Levy: Proposed at $21,952,000, a 6.04% increase over the 2024 extension of $20,702,232.82.

• Truth in Taxation Hearing: A public hearing on the proposed levy is scheduled for Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

• Anticipated Revenue: Despite the higher request, the district anticipates receiving an increase of approximately 5.0% due to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL).

MOKENA, IL – The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, unanimously approved a tentative property tax levy of $22.5 million for 2025. The total proposed levy is 5.88% higher than the 2024 tax extension, an increase that requires the district to hold a public Truth in Taxation hearing.

The hearing is scheduled for the next board meeting on December 17. The board is expected to give final approval to the levy at that meeting, and the request will be submitted to the Will County Clerk by December 18.

Dr. Teri Shaw, Chief School Business Official, explained that while the district is requesting a 6.04% increase in its corporate and special purpose levy, it will not receive the full amount. Due to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), which caps levy increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 5%, whichever is less, the district anticipates an actual revenue increase of about 5.0%. The CPI for 2025 is 2.9%.

Shaw described the practice of requesting a higher amount than the district expects to receive as a “balloon levy.” This strategy ensures the district can capture all available tax revenue from new property construction, the final value of which is unknown at the time of the levy request.

During the meeting, board member Samantha Tunney questioned the allocation of funds, noting a projected deficit in the education fund while salaries and benefits are expected to rise more than the anticipated revenue increase. “We should be thinking about how to reallocate that O&M money into the education fund,” Tunney said, suggesting the board explore different scenarios before the final vote in December.

Shaw noted that Mokena maintains the lowest tax rate among comparable Will County elementary districts and Lincoln-Way feeder districts. Based on the 2024 tax rate, the school tax bill for a $400,000 home in Mokena is $3,538.98, which is $835 less than in Frankfort and over $2,100 less than in Manhattan for a home of the same value.

The 2025 levy will generate funds for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, covering approximately 51% of the current school year’s budget and 49% of the next.