Geneseo Township is proposing no increase in its property tax levy for 2026, keeping its combined township and road district tax request at $362,589.
Township Supervisor Mark Breeden confirmed that the township will not hold a Truth in Taxation hearing because the proposed levy does not exceed the threshold requiring one.
Township and Road District Levies Remain Flat
The proposed levy includes $131,000 for township operations and $231,589 for road district funds.
Although the road district's total levy remains unchanged, some funding would shift between accounts.
The Permanent Road Fund would decrease by $30,000, or 31.94%, while the Equipment and Building Fund would increase by $30,000, or 46.15%.
The Road and Bridge Fund and Joint Bridge Fund would remain unchanged.
These adjustments would not increase the total amount requested from taxpayers.
Property Values Continue to Rise
Geneseo Township's equalized assessed valuation (EAV), which represents taxable property value, is projected to increase from approximately $248 million in 2025 to $260 million in 2026.
That's an increase of approximately 4.8%, based on the figures provided by the township.
Since 2020, the township's taxable property value has increased approximately 38%.
With the total levy remaining unchanged, the township's tax rates are expected to decrease as the tax burden is spread across a larger tax base.
However, individual property tax bills may still increase or decrease depending on changes in assessed values, exemptions and other taxing bodies' levies.
Levy Has Declined Since 2020
The township's combined levy totaled $435,695 in 2020 and reached $453,500 in 2022.
It dropped to $362,050 in 2023 before increasing slightly to $362,589 in 2024.
The levy remained unchanged in 2025 and is proposed to stay at the same amount in 2026.
Overall, the proposed 2026 levy is approximately 16.8% lower than the amount requested in 2020.
No Truth in Taxation Hearing Required
Illinois law generally requires a Truth in Taxation hearing when a taxing body proposes an aggregate levy increase of more than 5% over the previous year's extension.
Because Geneseo Township is proposing no increase, a hearing is not required under the usual threshold.
If approved, the township and road district would request the same combined amount as last year, despite continued growth in taxable property values.
Source: Geneseo Township 2026 proposed levy calculations and information provided by Township Supervisor Mark Breeden.