Oak Park Aware

Did you know?

$512 What Oak Park spends a year on its library, per household (2026).1,4

That’s 32% more than River Forest and 58% more than Evanston*.

See the comparison Who decides?

*Based on Evanston’s proposed 2025 levy. How we calculated this →

How Oak Park compares

  • Oak Park$512$219
  • River Forest$389$148
  • Evanston (proposed 2025 levy)$325$132

Library property tax for the 2025 levy year. Evanston’s figure includes debt service; Oak Park’s doesn’t.1,5,7

Show as a table
CommunityLibrary taxPer householdPer resident
Oak Park$11,979,000$512$219
River Forest$1,734,288$389$148
Evanston (proposed 2025 levy)$10,294,799$325$132

An elected library board sets the budget — not the Village Board.

Oak Park voters elect seven library trustees.10 They set the library’s budget and tax amount. State law requires the Village Board to levy that amount.13,12

When library taxes go up, ask the library board.

The trend

2025$11.40M 
2026$11.98M+5.0%
2027$12.46M+4.0% (draft)

The library board is reviewing its 2027 budget now.2,1,3

Show up. Or run.

Run for trustee

Three of the seven trustee seats are on the April 6, 2027, ballot.11 Candidates file petitions Nov. 16–23, 2026.14 Check the requirements with the Village Clerk.

Questions, answered briefly

Is Oak Park Aware anti-library?

No. The library is an important and wonderful part of our community. Our goal is to increase awareness of, and engagement in, local government. A more aware community can better support its library.

Why per household?

It’s the clearest unit for a family budget. Per resident is shown too. It’s an average: it includes tax paid by businesses, and individual bills vary.

I rent in Oak Park. Do I pay for the library too?

Indirectly. Landlords pay property tax, and some or all of it can be passed on through rent.

How can I help?
  1. Share this page on social media to raise awareness.
  2. Be an informed voter on April 6, 2027.
  3. Attend a future library board meeting.
Where do these numbers come from?

Public budgets, levies and Census data. See sources & method.