Here’s what your 2024 Sycamore city property tax bill might look like

SYCAMORE – City officials said Sycamore property taxpayers could pay slightly less to the city than they have in past years on their 2024 property tax levy.

The levy is paid through property owners' taxes and predominately used by the city to fund general operations as well as police and fire pensions. The city is expected to levy $3.78 million this year for the property tax bills due in the spring.

The Sycamore City Council approved the levy in a 7-1 vote Dec. 2.

The equalized accessed value – the pool of property value that governments can tax – of property in Sycamore rose by about $81.2 million, or 13.32%, in 2024 compared with 2023, documents show. By keeping the property tax levy the same, city officials reduced the tax rate by 13.62%, according to city documents.

“So, what that means is because the EAV went up, the tax rate will go down,” City Manager Michael Hall said. “We’re going to be going from $0.6227, which is the current tax rate, down to $0.5480, lowering it down by not increasing the levy.”

Sycamore residents whose property value rose by more than 13.6% still might pay more in total 2024 property taxes, however. Property owners' bills likely could increase overall because of the Sycamore School District 427 Board’s decision to increase their property tax levy to $45 million. That means some could owe hundreds more to the school district specifically, depending on how much their property value rose.

That fact was mentioned by 4th Ward Alderperson Ben Bumpus this month during the council’s discussion about the city’s budget.

Bumpus was the only board member to vote against the property tax levy request. Ahead of that vote, he urged the city to consider a further reduction of the tax rate.

“I believe it’s our obligation to make sure that we are presenting an option that actually shows where we have a possibility of lowering the taxing body,” Bumpus said.

City officials said lowering the levy amount would require cuts to city services, however. Third Ward Alderperson Nancy Copple said that was a nonstarter for her.

“When I started in 2017, I didn’t realize how short-staffed our fire and our police were. It was very eye-opening for me to see that,” Copple said. “I think we should credit our staff for doing everything they can to do what they could with what they have, and we can still invest in our people.”

Second Ward Alderperson Chuck Stowe said he thinks city staff should be commended for keeping the property tax levy the same as last year.

“Oftentimes, all we ever hear is about how taxes are going up,” Stowe said. “We’ve been able to at least live within the same budget we had a year ago. I think that’s fantastic, and I’d love to see more taxing districts do that.”

The Sycamore City Council was presented with 15 other options, all of which would have increased the levy amount. Elected officials decided to keep the levy the same.

First Ward Alderperson Alan Bauer said he thinks the city should not increase the property tax levy because the cost of some city services will increase in 2025.

“I think, considering that we are actually gonna charge a little bit more for water and sewer and some of those things, it’s still going to be a little bit extra to all the taxpayers in Sycamore,” Bauer said. “So I’m good right here.”