The District 87 school board unanimously approved a 2 cent increase to its property tax levy Wednesday. (WJBC file photo)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – Residents within the District 87 school district will see their property tax rise. The board unanimously passed a roughly 3.4 percent increase for next year.

District 87 Superintendent Barry Reilly said the board was careful about the increase, which is roughly 2 cents per $100 equalized assessed valuation.

"We compare our rates to others around us, and when you compare District 87, our overall tax rate, to districts around here, certainly in (McLean) County, you're going to find that we're one of the lowest," said Reilly.

The increase means the owner of a property worth $150,000 would pay an additional $8.56. The board also approved plans for a new enterprise zone, because the current one expires at the end of next year.

Reilly said the school board could also look at a new deficit reduction program. He expects the district to operate with a budget deficit around $1.5 million for the next two years.

One issue that wasn't addressed at Wednesday night's meeting is the contract negotiations between District 87 and the Bloomington Education Association. Several dozen teachers in red BEA shirts stood quietly at the meeting while the tax levy was passed.

Reilly didn't say much about the negotiations.

"What I will say is both sides are working hard to get a contract and you saw that teachers are here supporting each other," said Reilly. "They want a contract as much as we do, and we're both working to get that done."

Teachers have been working under the terms of the previous contract, which expired in the summer. BEA President Rich Baldwin said the two sides are close to a deal, but the ball is in the administration's court.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].