At its Nov. 10 meeting the DeKalb City Council advanced the 2025 property tax levy in Ordinance 2025‑045 (first reading) and approved Ordinance 2025‑046 abating taxes for corporate purposes for tax year 2025. City Manager Bill Nicholas described how the levy calculation interacts with the library aggregate rate, special service areas (SSAs) and existing debt obligations; staff said the proposed levy would result in a negligible decrease in the city rate to 0.62286 per $100 equalized assessed value.

Nicholas emphasized the city is using general fund reserves to cover capital shortfalls this year and reviewed recent refunding that reduced debt service. He said, in effect, the council is drawing on reserves for street maintenance and capital needs while some larger debt obligations will come off in coming years. Several aldermen urged attention to affordability: Alderman Berg said, “This tax increase is a little tough to take,” and asked the council to monitor deficit spending and pursue affordability measures.

Council discussed special service area funding (noting a reduction in Hunter Ridgebrook’s levy from $50,000 to $25,000) and plans to use Market Square reserves to repave driving aisles. The levy ordinance passed its first reading and the abatement ordinance was adopted on roll call.

What happens next: The levy process will continue through the public notice and final adoption process; staff will present the budget and related materials in coming meetings. The abatement will be implemented as recorded in the adopted ordinance.

Actions: Ordinance 2025‑045 (2025 levy) — passed on first reading; Ordinance 2025‑046 (tax abatement) — adopted.