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Belvidere council flatlines property tax levy, approves $2.5 million in expenditures
Summary
Belvidere City Council on Dec. 15 held a public hearing on the proposed property tax levy (no public speakers), adopted a flatlined municipal levy and related special-service-area levies, and approved $2,487,560.32 in general fund and $1,029,384.18 in water/sewer expenditures; all recorded votes were unanimous (10–0).
Belvidere’s City Council adopted a municipal property tax levy at its Dec. 15 meeting and approved routine budget expenditures, while hearing no public comments at a brief, one-minute levy hearing.
Mayor opened the public hearing on the proposed property tax levy at 6:04 p.m., noting the notice was published in the Belvidere Republican. The mayor told the council the levy would be “flatlined” — unchanged from last year — and said the city’s fiscal position and recent infrastructure investments justified holding rates steady. “By flatlining this levy, not raising it, I think it is responsible and I think it's been prudent to do it,” the mayor said.
Why it matters: the council’s vote preserves current property-tax rates for fiscal 2025–26 while the city continues capital work the mayor said has reduced stormwater risk in several neighborhoods. Alderman Peterson added context on revenue sources, noting the tax levy covers roughly 22.5% of general-fund operations with the remainder coming from other sources.
The council then moved through a set of formal votes. On consent the council approved general and special fund expenditures totaling $2,487,560.32 after brief questions about a $4,120.83 library health-insurance line item. The water and sewer fund expenditures of $1,029,384.18 were approved in a separate motion. Both motions passed on roll-call votes recorded as 10 in favor, 0 opposed.
Votes at a glance: ordinance 7 44 h (municipal levy for fiscal year 05/01/2025–04/30/2026) — adopted on second reading; ordinance 7 45 h (Farmington special service area 2 levy) — adopted on second reading; ordinance 7 46 h (Farmington special service area 3 levy) — adopted on second reading. Each ordinance was approved by the recorded roll-call votes taken during the meeting.
Council members also approved on second reading ordinance 7 47 h to authorize sale of a surplus 1967 Joy air compressor to an outside entity that had expressed interest; the transfer was described as an "as-is" donation with no additional indemnity required.
What’s next: two replats (ordinances 7 48 h and 7 49 h) related to Deer Woods 2 were presented on first reading and are scheduled for second reading and final action on Jan. 5. The meeting adjourned at 6:34 p.m.
(Reporting based on the Dec. 15, 2025 Belvidere City Council transcript; public comment on the levy was not received at the hearing.)
