Barrington’s school district is proposing a larger property tax levy for next year, a move that could ripple across household budgets in a community known for high home values and strong school support. The district has scheduled a December public hearing on a plan that would raise total property taxes by 7.32% for 2025.

According to a district notice, "A public hearing to approve a proposed property tax levy increase for Barrington Community Unit School District Number 220, Lake, Cook, Kane, and McHenry Counties, Illinois, for 2025 will be held on December 2, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Barrington CUSD 220’s Administrative center, 515 West Main Street, Barrington, Illinois 60010."

What the levy would mean

District figures outline increases across operating and debt categories. The proposal would:

  • Corporate and special purpose property taxes: 2024 = $156,153,482; proposed 2025 = $163,300,000 (4.58% increase).
  • Debt service and public building commission leases: 2024 = $9,000,073; estimated 2025 = $13,948,798 (54.99% increase).
  • Total property taxes: 2024 = $165,153,554; estimated 2025 = $177,248,798 (7.32% increase).

The sharpest jump is tied to debt service and public building commission leases, which would rise by more than half year over year. The combined effect is an overall levy increase of 7.32%.

A snapshot of Barrington’s tax base

Barrington’s affluence and home values provide important context for the proposal. The village has roughly 11,000 residents and a median age just over 43, according to Data USA. Owner-occupancy is high, at about 79%, and the median property value is near $580,900. Census Reporter estimates the median household income at about $150,714, with per capita income around $80,316.

The community’s racial composition remains predominantly White, with significant Asian representation and smaller shares for Black and multiracial residents, data from Data USA shows. Those demographics underpin a tax base where higher-value homes mean school levies can translate into substantial bills for many homeowners.

How Barrington compares

The proposed levy aligns with wider patterns in Illinois and the Chicago region. An analysis by Illinois Policy found the median Illinois property tax bill rose by $756 between 2018 and 2022, with homeowners in half of the state’s counties seeing increases that outpaced inflation. In Cook County, where part of Barrington’s school district lies, property tax bills rose roughly 4% in 2024, continuing a multi-year climb, according to Axios.

School districts remain the dominant driver of local property tax collections. Wirepoints reports that in Cook County, school districts accounted for 59% of all property taxes in 2022 and 73% of levy growth. That dynamic often puts school budgets at the center of debates over tax bills.

Recent levy history for CUSD 220

The district’s proposal follows several cycles of mid–single-digit levy growth. Reporting from the Barrington Hills Observer shows CUSD 220 projected a 5.5% overall levy increase for 2024 and requested up to 6.3% to account for potential new construction. The Observer also noted the district’s heavy reliance on property taxes—about 80% of annual operating revenues—and the fact that CUSD 220’s levy must be filed across Lake, Cook, Kane, and McHenry counties.

Taken together, that history and the current proposal illustrate the balancing act facing the district: meeting educational and capital obligations while the broader region experiences sustained upward pressure on tax bills.

What comes next

Residents can weigh in before the school board considers adoption. The hearing is set for Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m., at the district’s administrative offices at 515 W. Main St. in Barrington. Community members who wish to present testimony may contact Sarah Lager, Asst. Superintendent of Business Services/CSBO, at (847) 381-6300. The board’s decision will help shape how much local taxpayers contribute to operating costs and debt payments in a community where high property values magnify the impact of school levies. As Barrington navigates the same tax pressures seen across Illinois, the December hearing offers a chance for residents to register priorities and concerns before the 2025 levy is finalized.