Follow the Money
A Mission for Financial Accountability, putting Residents First.
Tina Chan is a Candidate for Oak Brook Park District Commissioner. She has lived in Oak Brook, Illinois, for over 25 years. She grew up going to Butler Junior High and Hinsdale Central. Tina graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and obtained her Kellogg MBA from Northwestern University. She spent 8+ years in Mergers and Acquisitions and has been a Business Owner for 12+ years.
The Oak Brook Park District has increased its tax levy at the maximum cap every year. It is the third largest levy on the Oak Brook tax bill (school tax levies are higher). Taxpayers pay the Park District $6 million a year, but the same Resident taxpayers also must pay member fees to use the Park District, only at a 20% fee discount compared to non-residents. Residents pay more tax, as more non-residents use the Park District.
Spending is big and increasing. How does the Park District spend our tax dollars? In a way that really benefits you, the Resident taxpayer? Let’s Follow the Money, and you can decide. Your vote for Tina will bring financial accountability and transparency to the Commissioner Board…even starting now.
WHAT ARE YOUR TAX DOLLARS SPENT ON?
Park District $6 million Expansion
The Park District budgeted $3 million of our tax dollars on its expansion, and sought a matching grant for the remainder. This project would add at least $3 million in new structures. Were taxpayers aware that the Park District was working on such a large expansion?
Oak Brook Residents Should Know…
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$2.7 million Park District Issued Bonds for Bathrooms and…?
These additional government bonds used to build new structures will cost taxpayers $1.4 million in interest alone.
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Spending and Headcount Have More Than Doubled!
Park District spending and property tax collected have increased over 2.5X the past 24 years, yet Oak Brook resident population has declined.
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Overnight Stays in Downtown Chicago
Annual Chicago conference expenses for 4 star hotel overnight stays for at least 9 employees, with over $1000 worth of meal charges per day at nice restaurants in the city.
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Millions in the Bank...Still Raising Taxes?
The Park District raised the tax levy again at the maximum rate allowable on Residents even though it has millions of our tax dollars in the bank. Why?
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Park District Broke State Law
Did you know that Commissioners received free lifetime memberships + EIGHT free memberships per quarter, to be shared with friends and family? Park District changed their policy after this website went public.
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Millions Spent for Astro Turf Soccer Field?
Maintenance of the soccer field costs millions of dollars, yet Non-Residents are the primary users. The Park District markets to attract out-of-state teams to use the field.
Dinner at The Palm in Chicago
Annual conference trip to Chicago included fine dining for Park District Staff and Commissioners at The Palm in January 2024.
Filet Mignon at $59 per plate
Lobster Gnocchi at $59 per plate
Chicken Parmigiana at $59 per plate
Per Park District policy, the maximum reimbursable rate for dinner is $35 a person.
Dinner for 7 people comes out to $492.24, which is $70 per person.
All this is charged to and paid for by the Park District, our tax dollars.
Travel for Staff and/or Commissioners with Expensed Trips to:
Hilton Head
Orlando
Canadian Rockies
Phoenix
Atlanta
Dallas and more…
The Park District is where residents exercise, swim, play tennis, take lessons, play soccer, relax and so much more. It is a separate governmental entity from the Village of Oak Brook, and the Park District Commissioner Board makes its own decisions to govern, levy tax, run, finance, and staff the Park District. The Commissioner Board is supposed to serve the Residents.
The Residents are the boss.
The Commissioner Board is the boss of the Executive Director.
The Executive Director is the boss of the Staff.
The question is, has the Commissioner Board fulfilled its fiduciary duty to the residents of Oak Brook? Follow the money, and it will be clear. Make an informed decision with your vote on April 1st.
Oak Brook Park District Organization Chart
Do Residents Pay More to Use the Park District than Non-Residents?
Oak Brook residents pay property taxes to the Park District every year and yet, must pay additional membership fees just to use the Park District facilities and amenities, such as the Park District Recreation Center, Aquatic Center, Tennis Center, etc. When you add up the property tax plus the monthly fee, the baseline cost for residents using the Park District is much higher than non-residents’ cost. Non-residents pay only 20% more than the resident member fee, with no outlay of property tax to the Park District every year. Essentially, residents subsidize non-residents.
Maximum Tax Cap Charged to Residents Every Year
The Park District is a separate governmental entity from the Village with its own tax levy power controlled by the Oak Brook Park District Commissioner Board. Our Park District collects almost $6 million in property tax every year, and it is increasing. In 2024, the Park District got a 5.5% tax levy increase, which was the maximum tax cap allowable that year. In 2025, the Park District Board approved another maximum tax cap increase of 3.15%, which again, will come out to the maximum tax cap allowable.
All past and future tax levy decisions are made by the Commissioner Board.
Bring Back Financial Accountability and Transparency to the Commissioner Board.
Vote for Tina Chan for Park District Commissioner at the April 1, 2025 Election
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A previous Oak Brook Park District Commissioner John O’Brien moved to another state after he got a job outside of Illinois, but stayed on as Park Commissioner until after the next election.
As reported by the Chicago Tribune, “If O’Brien had resigned prior to the December filing deadline, his unexpired term would have been on the April 7 election ballot.”
This action prevented Oak Brook voter choice, and was allowed by the Park District Board and Executive Director, many of whom are the same people endorsing and supporting my opponent today.
Let’s reverse this Oak Brook Park District culture of disrespecting Oak Brook residents by standing strong and voting for me, Tina Chan for Oak Brook Park District Commissioner at the April 1 election. I will put Oak Brook Residents First.
#followthemoney #oakbrook #residentsfirst
Read the write up on the Issue: Oak Brook Voters Missed Opportunity to Elect New Park Commissioner