Oppose the 167% Rochester Library Property Tax Hike Referendum
More property taxes is not what Illinois families can afford right now.
We, the undersigned Rochester Public Library District voters, urge our neighbors to oppose the massive 167% property tax increase set for the November 2024 ballot.
The property tax hike referendum, if passed, would…
● Raise the Library District’s property tax levy by 167%. (Source)
● Increase the average homeowner’s property tax bill by $444 a year. (Source)
● Allow for bigger annual property tax levy hikes each year going forward. (Source)
Effective property tax rates in the Rochester Public Library District range between 2.2% and 2.53% already, which is significantly higher than:
● 1.95% State of Illinois average (Source)
● 1.9% Sangamon County average (Source)
● 0.76% United States median state average - Oklahoma. (Source)
In a state with the highest combined state and local tax rates, Rochester area residents pay enough property taxes already.
The Rochester Public Library District doesn’t need to raise property taxes by 167%.
● The property tax extension has been raised every year since 2006. (Source)
● The property tax extension has been raised by 60% since 2006. (Source)
● RPLD maintains the ability to modestly increase the property tax extension yearly based on the inflation rate plus new construction in the district. (Source)
The Rochester Public Library District’s demand for a 167% property tax hike is excessive for area residents, especially when many families are facing economic uncertainty.
Our opposition to this tax hike is a call for fiscal responsibility and fairness to all taxpayers. Massively raising property taxes shouldn’t be considered when families face incredibly high property taxes and economic uncertainty in our community.