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City staff outlines proposed 4.13% tax-levy increase in Washington
Summary
A City of Washington staff member explained a proposed 4.13% city tax-levy increase, saying 0.99 percentage points come from new development (which pays its own share) and the effective increase for existing property owners is about 3.14%, or roughly $5.81 per average household per year.
A staff member representing the City of Washington outlined a proposal by the city council for a 4.13% increase in the municipal tax levy and explained how that change would affect property owners.
The staff member said the city receives about 6% of a typical property tax bill and that the remainder — about 94% — goes to other taxing bodies. "When you pay your property tax bill, only a small portion actually goes to the City of Washington," the presenter said.
The presentation explained equalized assessed value, or EAV, as the county- and state-determined estimate of property value across the community that determines tax shares. The presenter said Washington’s total EAV rose by about 10.49% this year, a change driven largely by rising home sale prices across Illinois.
The staff member broke the 10.49 percentage-point EAV increase into two parts: about 0.99 percentage points from new development — "new homes and businesses added to the tax base" — and roughly 9.5 percentage points from rising market values of existing properties. The presenter emphasized that the new development portion pays its own share of taxes and helps spread the cost across more properties.
On the proposed levy itself, the staff member said the council is proposing a 4.13% increase but that, because 0.99 points of EAV growth come from new development, the effective increase on the existing tax base is about 3.14%.
Using an example, the presenter said that for a household with a $3,000 total property tax bill, the city portion is roughly $185 and the proposed levy would raise that by about $5.81 per year (about $0.48 per month). "Based on the proposed levy, the estimated increase for the average household is small, typically just a few dollars per year," the staff member said.
The presenter pointed listeners to a chart showing approximate impacts based on recent property tax bills for residents seeking more detail. The session closed with a reminder that the city's stated priorities are public safety and financial stability and a commitment to responsible use of levy dollars.
No formal council vote or adoption was recorded in the transcript; the presentation describes the council proposal and estimated impacts but does not record a final decision or next procedural step.
