DeKalb, Sycamore city councils approve property tax levies, decreases for residents for 2020 tax year

Some Sycamore and DeKalb residents will see a slight decrease on the city portion of their property tax bills after both city councils approved their property tax levies for the 2020 tax year last month.

The Sycamore City Council voted, 8-0, during a Dec. 21 virtual meeting to approve a roughly 56-cent reduction in the city portion of the property tax bill for an owner with a $200,000 home, according to city officials. Sycamore Mayor Curt Lang said during a Dec. 21 virtual City Council he appreciated the efforts that went into approving the levy, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s been a long journey, but it is one that is well done and now we can move on,” Lang said.

Sycamore City Manager Brian Gregory said city officials previously discussed a tax levy option for a $3,137,913 levy for the 2020 tax year, with a 0.64447% tax rate. The DeKalb County Supervisor of Assessment estimates the city’s equalized assessed value for 2020 will be $486,900,285, which includes $4,600,245 in new construction, according to city documents.

Gregory had said that recommended option would mean the levy would fund city pensions and everything else stays the same. The increased funding for pension costs will be borne from new construction, Gregory had said.

Gregory had said city staff is recommending a property tax freeze for most residents for the library’s tax levy, and the levy would only apply to new construction. The council also approved abating most city debt during the Dec. 21 meeting.

“So we will fund this debt through other revenue sources and not through property taxes,” Gregory said.

City officials later said during a Monday remote City Council meeting that 2021 budget talks are expected to begin in March.

DeKalb property tax levy, city budget

The DeKalb City Council also voted, 7-0, to approve the city’s proposed property tax levy during its Dec. 14 meeting.

The proposed DeKalb city tax levy includes a $6,522,456 city levy and a 1.0662% tax rate, which is about 7.6% lower than last year’s tax rate – and, as city officials previously pointed out, the lowest decrease the city has had in a long time. City officials had said that those who own a $154,700 home in the city would save $16 on their property tax bill on the city’s portion.

DeKalb City Manager Bill Nicklas said during the Dec. 14 meeting the city will not levy for Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, social security or for general corporate purposes.

“Because, again, we want to keep taxes down,” Nicklas said.

The City Council also voted to approve the city budget, which city officials previously confirmed was balanced, during the same meeting. Highlights from the 2021 budget include tackling a complete restructure of the DeKalb Police Department amid local demands for police reform, addressing staffing levels during a crisis and anticipating revenue shortfalls from a lack of sales tax revenue from struggling businesses like bars, restaurants and hotels.

The DeKalb Police Department’s personnel costs next year – with a $27 million proposed budget for 81 full-time personnel, including currently 56 sworn officers, down from last year, plus 19 part time staff – looks to be the most significant, with a complete department restructuring set to divide the department’s operations into three separate divisions with an eye to community-led service. The proposed changes are coming in response to months of daily marches and local calls for police reform led by activists and the local Black Lives Matter chapter, according to city officials.