Photo: Dennisyerger84 · CC BY-SA 4.0Forest Park spent more per resident in 2022 than 84% of similar cities
Forest Park’s village government spent $22.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2022, about $1,684 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.2 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Forest Park is run
Read from the village’s budget and official records.
$1,684 per resident in 2022: more than 84% of them
Forest Park’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,684 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 97 Illinois cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,094, and the middle half spent $794–$1,484. Forest Park spent more than 84% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Illinois cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Forest Park itself left out).
About $1,684 per resident a year, or $4.61 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 43%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Forest Park reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $6,481 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.13% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Forest Park’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Forest Park’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Forest Park →
Who’s in charge in Forest Park
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Forest Park’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The village posts agendas and minutes on forestpark.net ↗.
One full-time village employee for every 121 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (13,534).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Proviso Township High School District 209
Forest Park’s high school district, shared with Bellwood, Berkeley, Hillside, Maywood, Stone Park and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $19,566 per pupil, $8,681 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Illinois districts overall: 52% local, 38% state, 10% federal.
Forest Park School District 91 · $33,990 per pupil
Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview School District 89 · $21,824 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Forest Park’s votes are counted by county
Illinois reports official results by county and precinct, not by village, so there are no official results for Forest Park alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Cook County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat68.9%1,447,821 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican27.8%583,852 votesOthers: 3.3% (70,005 votes).
Most votes in Cook County: Kamala D Harris
Illinois: Harris 54.4%, Trump 43.5%
100% of Forest Park lies in Cook County. Every 2024 race in Cook County is on the county’s page.
Cook County’s 2024 results →Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Forest Park.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: forestpark.net ↗
- 2Illinois HouseForest Park is split between 3 districts
- 3Illinois SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Illinois
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Forest Park compares with the towns next door
Forest Park spent $1,684 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $31 to $2,105. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Proviso Township | $31 | $6,477 |
| River Forest Township | $70 | $10,000+ |
| River Forest | $2,105 | $10,000+ |
| Maywood | estimate | $6,590 |
| North Riverside | estimate | $6,049 |
| Forest Park | $1,684 | $6,481 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Forest Park’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Forest Park’s government
How much does Forest Park spend per resident?
About $1,684 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,684 was more than 84% of 97 Illinois cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Forest Park?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,481 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 2.13% of the typical home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see forestpark.net.
Who runs Forest Park’s government?
See forestpark.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Forest Park yet.
How did Forest Park vote in 2024?
Illinois counts votes by county and precinct, not by village, so there are no official results for Forest Park alone. Cook County, where 100% of Forest Park lies, voted Harris 68.9%, Trump 27.8% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Forest Park?
112 full-time and 41 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $860,878 (about $10.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Forest Park in the state legislature?
Forest Park is split among 3 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Illinois Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Forest Park’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →