Elgin hears Truth in Taxation statements as proposed property tax levy rises about 13%

City officials opened the required Truth in Taxation public hearing on Dec. 3 and recited the figures required by law before inviting public comment. Chief Financial Officer Deb Nawrocki told the council that corporate and special-purpose property taxes extended in 2024 were $55,983,629 and that the proposed corporate/special-purpose levy for 2025 is $63,648,790 — a 13.7% increase. Debt-service taxes for 2025 were projected to decline slightly; the total proposed property tax levy for 2025 was stated as $65,611,940, a 13.2% increase from 2024.

Nawrocki said the notice required by the Truth in Taxation law was published on Nov. 24 and that taxing districts must certify compliance with the county clerk. A resident asked whether the city had considered a sliding income scale for property taxes; staff responded that property taxes are extended by the county and a sliding municipal scale would be beyond the city’s authority.

After the public-comment portion, which yielded questions but no formal objections, the hearing was closed and council proceeded with other business. Several council members later discussed the budget during the city’s budget hearing, thanking staff for stewardship while acknowledging the difficulty of raising property taxes after more than a decade without increases to the general fund levy.

What happens next: the council may adopt the tax levy following the hearing consistent with statutory timelines; any final adoption and certification will be recorded in subsequent council actions.

Attribution: Chief Financial Officer Deb Nawrocki presented the Truth in Taxation data to the council.