ROCHELLE — The Rochelle City Council on Tuesday approved its 2025 property tax levy, including a 3% increase in the dollar amount requested that will lower the city’s portion of taxes for homeowners. The city’s equalized assessed valuation rose nearly $30 million to $354.4 million. Under the new levy, the city’s share on a $150,000 home will drop from $464 to $437 and on a $200,000 home from $618 to $583. The levy reflects rising property values and increments in TIF districts, including a 27% increase in the downtown TIF, 10% in Lighthouse Point, and 3.5% in Northern Gateway.
Rochelle City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said the burden on the taxpayer will actually go down.
“Our overall EAV estimates have gone up again for, I think, the sixth year in a row, about $30 million. So when we approved the extension of the non-home rule sales tax because we lost a grocery tax, I told council I really want to try to get our rate below 90 cents. And so this is going to allow us to do that.”
Council members voted 7-0 to adopt the levy, which will be included in the city’s budget document presented in November.
”Anytime we can talk about people’s taxes going down, I think it’s pretty good news. That shows a lot of diligence and determination internally to make sure we stay properly funded in what we need to, and we’re not spent through the rest of it.,” said Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows.