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Urbana board approves ballooned 2025 tax levy, schedules Truth-in-Taxation notice
Summary
The Urbana School District 116 board approved a ballooned proposed 2025 tax levy after a staff presentation explaining CPI limits, EAV estimates and an expiring TIF; the board also approved routine consent items at the same meeting.
The Urbana School District 116 Board of Education voted to approve the district’s proposed 2025 tax levy after a staff presentation explaining why the district used a 'balloon' levy to capture expiring TIF revenue and new construction.
A district finance presenter told the board the levy process relies on estimated equalized assessed value (EAV) and is constrained by the county’s property tax extension limitation law (PTO). The presenter said the levy provides "approximately 60% of the district's operating revenues each year" and noted the consumer price index (CPI) for 2025 at 2.9%. The staff member explained that a ballooned levy helps the district capture revenue such as the TIF 4 expiration in December and new property additions.
The proposed levy request presented to the board was $62,600,000; the presenter estimated the final extension the district ultimately receives could be closer to about $53,000,000 once final EAVs are set. The presenter also described the process that triggers a Truth-in-Taxation public hearing when the levy request increases more than tax‑cap limits.
Board members moved and approved the levy after the presentation. The motion was recorded and adopted by roll call with members present voting yes (Member Langendorff; Vice President Baxley; Member Hixson; Member Marabu; Member Jones).
Why it matters: The levy request funds day‑to‑day operations and is a primary local revenue source for the district. Using a balloon levy is a common local practice to avoid losing one‑time new‑construction or expiring TIF revenue; it also requires public notice and a Truth‑in‑Taxation hearing when the proposed extension exceeds the tax‑cap threshold.
Votes at a glance: At the same meeting the board approved the consent agenda (minutes and listed bills), accepted multiple gifts (including a $30,000 gift to Urbana Early Childhood School), approved revisions to the district’s press policies, and accepted the naming committee recommendation to retain the Urbana Sixth Grade Center building name while naming the land the 'Flossie Wiley campus.' All of those motions passed by roll call among members present.
The board’s next procedural step on the levy is the required public notice and Truth‑in‑Taxation hearing, with final levy calculations determined by county officials after EAVs are finalized.
