Oglesby council approves bills, payroll and 2026 property tax levy; abates 2013 bond levy

The Oglesby City Council on a series of routine motions approved payment of $867,133.92 in bills and payroll totaling $74,289.50, and adopted a property-tax levy for 2025–2026 that reduces the rate from 2.12336 to 2.04932 while increasing expected revenue by about $81,000 because assessed property values rose.

Council members moved and voted on the financial items in roll-call votes. Commissioner Cullinan summarized the levy proposal and said the rate decrease reflected rising assessed valuations; he told the council that "Even though there would be a decrease in the tax rate, there would be an increase in the amount of revenue we're collecting...I think it's about $81,000." After brief discussion, the council approved the levy by roll call.

Separately, staff described a 2013 bond levy that originally supported roughly $2 million in improvements and carries a scheduled repayment amount for the current year of about $167,820. Staff said user-fee funds have historically covered repayment and recommended continuing to abate that levy so residents would not face an extra tax. The council voted to abate the 2013 levy; staff noted the abatement avoids adding that levy on top of the approved property levy.

The meeting record also shows motions to approve minutes from the December regular meeting and to table approval of certain executive-session minutes for additional review. Those procedural items carried by roll call.

What happens next: these financial votes were procedural approvals recorded in the minutes; staff will continue to manage levy paperwork and post the approved warrants and payroll records as required.