Skokie Schools

The Village of Skokie was given a AAA bond rating from Fitch IBCA for its 2003 General Obligation bond series. In 2003 Money magazine named Skokie among the 80 fastest-growing suburbs in the entire nation. Chicago magazine continues to rank Skokie near the top in its suburban livability rating, praising the Village's schools, parks, municipal services and entertainment options. Skokie was the first community in the entire United States to have nationally accredited Fire, Police and Public Works Departments. The Skokie Police Department is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), a credential it has held since 1988. The Skokie Fire Department holds both a Class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO), an independent organization used by the insurance industry to rate fire fighting capability, and full accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. In 2003 the Public Works Department achieved accreditation from the American Public Works Association, giving Skokie its status as the first town in the country to achieve this level of professional accreditation. In addition, the Skokie Health Department is only one of eight state-certified municipal health departments in Illinois and provides a wide range of services to Skokie residents. The Village Board is committed to providing superior municipal services while holding the line on property taxes. In 1991, the Village Board committed to freeze municipal property taxes while expanding and enhancing government services. The municipal property tax freeze remains in effect today. The Village of Skokie also has some of the lowest user fees, such as those for vehicle registration, in the suburban Chicago area. Quality government services work in tandem with the Village Board's focus on economic development. In recent years, the Village of Skokie has encouraged redevelopment in Downtown Skokie that now includes development of the Illinois Science + Technology Park on the 23.4-acre former Searle/Pfizer site. The Village also participated in an expansion and renovation of Westfield Old Orchard, developed the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, renovated the Southeast Industrial area and began improvements to the West Dempster Street corridor. Skokie is a founding member of the Chicago's North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau that encourages visitors to contribute to the local economy. Each of these successful programs enhances the Village of Skokie's commercial tax base while adding new dimensions to its already abundant cultural offerings.