Palatine homeowners will pay more in taxes next year following the approval of a 3.82 percent tax levy hike by the village council. The Daily Herald reported on the 4-1 vote at a village council meeting Dec. 4 to support the $117 million budget for 2018. Due to a “raiding of local government money by the state,” the tax increase will be used to offset $540,000 in pension costs for police and fire department employees.

Village members originally proposed a 4.26 percent property tax increase, citing higher ambulance fees, police and fire employee pensions, and a new $85,000 fee from Springfield to collect taxes. Additionally, the state of Illinois withdrew $300,000 in local government assistance to the village. 

Members reduced the tax hike to 3.82 percent and agreed to make up the difference by raising ambulance fees. Palatine will charge residents $750 and nonresidents $1,000 for ambulance service next year. Medicare or private insurance typically foot the bill.

Councilman Tim Millar was the lone objector to the tax increase, but Village Manager Reid Ottesen said no one took the increase lightly. According to the publication, an owner of a $400,000 home in Palatine will pay an extra $37 to the village in 2018.

According to Illinois Policy, Palatine has explored increasing taxpayer funding in the past to solve police and fire pension problems without success. Between 2012 and 2016, taxpayer contributions to the fire pension increased by more than 27 percent. While contributions to the Palatine police fund dipped between 2012 and 2014, they increased nearly 20 percent between 2014 and 2016.