By SARWAT S. AHMAD Shaw Media Correspondent
EAV was down about 7 percent. In 2014, values are expected to be down about 5 percent, according to Russell. “We are hoping that EAV may not only level off but start increasing in the future,” Russell said. “We are not a property-rich district,” Russell said. “That’s why general state aid is higher.” The board will vote on the tax levy in its first meeting in December.
New support staff, operations contracts In other business, the school board approved new union contracts with school support staff and operations and maintenance staff. The new contracts will provide a 3.5 percent wage increase in the first year and 3.25 percent increases in the following two years. The agreements, which required very little negotiating, are the same as the one the district negotiated with teachers last month, Russell said.
Donations sought for Plainfield Central Christmas drive for needy By VIKAAS SHANKER vshanker@shawmedia.com PLAINFIELD – The Plainfield High School Central Campus parent-teacher organization seeks monetary donations for its annual Christmas drive for needy families. Plainfield Central’s Parent Teacher Student Organization is holding its 22nd annual drive, which collects money to buy a Christmas meal and gifts for less-fortunate district families. “We initially started by helping three or four families to almost 40 families a couple of years back,” Christmas Drive coordinator Linda Hanley said. The drive is expected to help more than 30 families this year.
Get involved n To contribute monetary donations, mail the donations made payable to “PTSO Needy Family Drive” to: ATTN: Audrey Stein Plainfield High School - Central Campus 24120 W. Fort Beggs Drive Plainfield, IL 60544 n To adopt a family, contact Linda Hanley at 815-439-2670 or hanfam7@comcast.net. The organization connects with local businesses, organizations and people who buy gifts and dinner for the families. Hanley said needy families can be “adopted” by district parents and school groups. Families that register to be
adopted are vetted by district officials to determine if they qualify for the program. District schools involved with the drive include Plainfield Central, Lakewood Falls and Lincoln elementary schools, and Ira Jones and Indian Trail middle schools. The C.W. Avery Family YMCA, Abri Credit Union, Followers of Christ Lutheran Church, the Plainfield Central Student Council and several private families also have pledged support. The families will receive the donations within two weeks before Christmas Day. Needy families who think they are eligible should talk with social workers at their students’ schools. No family in need has been turned away.
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• Friday, November 7, 2014
JOLIET – Joliet Grade School District 86 expects to receive more money in property taxes and will pay out more money to employees after approving a union contract. The school district’s property tax levy is scheduled to be up for approval at the school board’s Dec. 3 meeting. On Wednesday, an administrator told the school board the district should get additional property tax revenue, and taxpayers may see a slight increase in school taxes. The district estimates it will receive nearly $30.8 million in property tax revenue this year. That is a 1.7 percent increase over the $30.2 million in property taxes collected last year. The district will request nearly $31.2 million in property tax revenue, said E. Wesley Russell, assistant superintendent for business and financial services. “We want to get all the
dollars we are entitled to, because if we don’t it will affect next year and every year after that,” Russell said. But property tax revenues are limited by tax caps, and taxing bodies do not always receive what they seek. Last year, District 86 requested $30.7 million but received $30.2 million. “We ask for a bit more because we are estimating property values and the value of any new construction,” Russell said. The tax rate estimated by the district for 2014-15 is 3.6889 percent. This is about a 0.25 percentage point increase over last year’s rate of 3.4383, according to Russell’s report. Russell said equalized assessed valuation – or the total tax value of property – in the district has decreased about 30 percent since the economy took a downturn in 2008. However, the rate at which has declined is decreasing, Russell said. In 2012, property values were down 11 percent from the previous year. In 2013, the
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Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No (Digital) (PG) 10:30AM 12:45PM 3:05PM 5:15PM 7:35PM Annabelle (Digital) (R) 9:50PM Before I Go to Sleep (Digital) (R) 10:05AM Big Hero 6 (3D) (PG) 11:30AM 2:15PM 5:00PM 7:45PM 10:30PM Big Hero 6 (Digital) (PG) 10:10AM 12:55PM 3:40PM 6:25PM 9:10PM 11:50PM Book Of Life (3D) (PG) 12:15PM 5:20PM 10:20PM Book Of Life (Digital) (PG) 9:45AM 2:45PM 7:50PM Fury (Digital) (R) 9:50AM 1:00PM 4:05PM 7:10PM 10:15PM 12:05AM
Gone Girl (Digital) (R) 11:45AM 3:45PM 7:05PM 10:25PM Interstellar (Digital) (PG-13) 10:00AM 11:15AM 12:30PM 1:45PM 3:00PM 4:15PM 5:30PM 6:45PM 8:00PM 9:15PM 10:30PM 11:40PM John Wick (Digital) (R) 10:50AM 1:25PM 4:20PM 7:20PM 10:10PM Nightcrawler (Digital) (R) 10:20AM 1:10PM 4:00PM 7:00PM 10:00PM 12:15AM On Any Sunday: The Next Chapter (Digital) (PG) 10:00AM 12:20PM 2:40PM 5:05PM 7:25PM 9:45PM Ouija (Digital) (PG-13) 9:55AM 12:25PM 2:50PM 5:10PM 7:30PM 9:55PM 12:15AM St. Vincent (Digital) (PG-13) 10:40AM 1:15PM 4:10PM 7:15PM 10:05PM
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Dolphin Tale 2 (Digital) (PG) 1:15PM, 4:30PM, 7:05PM Let’s Be Cops (Digital) (R) 2:40PM, 7:20PM, 9:45PM 22 Jump Street (R) 1:00PM, 4:25PM, 6:55PM, 9:30PM The Giver (PG-13) 12:25PM, 5:05PM, 9:35PM When the Game Stands Tall (PG) 1:30PM, 4:15PM, 7:10PM, 9:45PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2D) (PG-13) 12:30PM, 2:50PM, 5:10PM, 7:30PM, 9:55PM
Into the Storm (PG-13) 12:55PM, 3:05PM, 5:15PM, 7:25PM, 9:40PM Hercules (2D) (PG-13) 12:40PM, 3:00PM, 5:20PM, 7:40PM, 10:00PM Maleficent (PG) (2D) 12:45PM, 3:10PM, 5:30PM, 7:45PM, 10:00PM Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (PG-13) (2D) 1:10PM, 4:10PM, 7:00PM, 9:50PM How To Train Your Dragon 2 (PG) (2D) 1:20PM, 4:20PM, 6:50PM, 9:20PM
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LOCAL NEWS | The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com
District 86 residents could see increase in school taxes
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