The school district lost $1 million in revenue in the 2004-05 tax year due to successful tax appeals. Since the 1997-98 school year, the district estimates $12 million has been forfeited to successful refunds.

According to district staff, most of the reimbursements go to businesses that successfully appeal for thousands in refunds each year.

"We've developed an inter-governmental agreement with the Elk Grove Park District [to jointly intervene]," Asst. Superintendent for Business Services Ruth Gloede said at a recent meeting. "They are affected as we are by the industrial park."

In the most recent 2003 tax year, a United Airlines appeal of its $13.3 million original assessment resulted in a loss of $305,653 for the school district. A successful Wal-Mart appeal took $72,046 from the district, and the Wingate Inn successfully received a refund of $37,707.

In the previous assessment year, Pfizer Drugs received a $46,128 refund, BP America received $43,621, Arthur Capital Group Inc. received $156,286, Ashley Court LLC received $74,525, and 75 Arlington Heights Partnership received $159,570.

Other successful business appeals in past years included McDonalds Corporation, oil and gas companies, and even the Illinois State Toll-Highway Authority.

When the school district's attorney intervenes, the law firm challenges the assessment appeal using its own appraisers. According to the district, successful interventions saved the district more than $200,000 last year.

The resolution approved on Monday allows the law firm to intervene on all 2004 assessment appeals, rather than each time a notice is received on a newly-filed appeal.