Spending and Headcount Have More Than Doubled

For the past 24 years, the Park District has a pattern in how it manages spending and budget. The Park District Commissioner Board has approved major spending for expansion plans adding new structures, new buildings and improvements, which substantially increases maintenance costs, plus the costs of higher salaries, more employee benefits, and more employees. The question is, does this really benefit Oak Brook residents, who pay the taxes to support it?

Below is a chart of the Park District expenses and property tax levy collected over the years since 2000. From 2000 to 2024, the expenses went from less than $4 million to $9 million, which is an increase of over 140%. Over the same time period, the property tax levy collected went from $2 million to $5.5 million, and it is rising, which is an increase of almost 185%.

Here is a chart of the full-time employees at the Park District. From 2000-2024, the full-time employees have increased from 14 to 40, which is an 185% increase. And, if you think about salary and benefits, they are a big component of the expenses.

Now, if you look at the organization chart of the Park District, residents are at the top. The Park District is supposed to serve the residents. The Oak Brook population has declined from 2000-2024, from 9,350 to 8,049, which is an almost 15% decline. The increased burden of cost has fallen on a declining Oak Brook resident population, and will continue to do so, if spending is not taken a hold of and controlled.