The Kankakee City Council held a first reading Dec. 1 on an ordinance levying property taxes for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2025. Mayor Curtis summarized the levy packet and said the city’s equalized assessed value is projected to be about $35 million higher than last year, allowing the city to request only a modest increase in levy dollars while reducing the overall tax rate from 4.316 to 3.971.

Officials said the requested increase in the levy is approximately $344,000 over last year but that the tax rate would drop to its lowest level since 2007. Comptroller Rogers and the city manager told council members the levy material will be discussed in the upcoming budget meeting and that a public hearing and second reading are scheduled for Dec. 15. No vote occurred Dec. 1; this was a first reading only.

City staff emphasized that actual tax bills depend on assessed property values and that the levy ordinance will be published as required by state statute before the hearing.