Amendment 1 will cost typical Sangamon County homeowner $869

By Bryce Hill

06/20/2022

See how much more you can expect to pay in property taxes unless voters reject the first question atop Illinois’ ballot Nov. 8.

TAGS: Amendment 1, Sangamon County

Sangamon County judge rules local governments can be open on Election Day

By Joe Tabor

10/19/2020

A section of a vote-by-mail bill passed earlier this year established Election Day 2020 as a state holiday. A judge ruled it did not apply to local governments.

TAGS: Election Day, public sector, Sangamon County

Sangamon County home values down 7%, property taxes up 14% since recession

By Brad Weisenstein

09/25/2019

Without true pension reform, Sangamon County homeowners will only continue to see the gap between their property taxes and home values grow.

TAGS: municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, Sangamon County, Springfield, taxes

Springfield shopping gets pricier after voters OK school sales tax

By Janelle Cammenga

11/07/2018

Voters decided Sangamon County school building improvements were worth boosting Springfield’s sales tax to among the highest in the nation. The 1 percent sales tax hike will take the total to 10.75 percent at some stores.

TAGS: sales tax, Sangamon County, Springfield, taxes

County referendum would raise Springfield sales tax burden to among nation’s highest

By Janelle Cammenga

09/11/2018

A proposed 1 percent sales tax for school facilities improvements would bring the city of Springfield’s combined sales tax rate to 9.75 percent – among the highest in the nation.

TAGS: municipal pensions, pensions, sales tax, Sangamon County, Springfield, taxes

Springfield taxpayers could see savings through township consolidation

08/28/2018

A ballot question asking voters whether to eliminate Capital Township could bring savings to Springfield taxpayers – but that would just be one of many steps worth taking to lower Springfield’s high property taxes.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, Sangamon County, Springfield, townships

As city of Springfield sees taxes rise, its population falls

06/06/2018

With pension debt straining city finances, local politicians have insisted on turning to its declining population for more tax revenue.

TAGS: bonds, credit rating, municipal pensions, outmigration, pensions, population, property taxes, Sangamon County, Springfield, taxes

Sangamon County homeowners: Where do your property taxes go?

By Amy Korte, Joe Tabor

02/20/2018

Sangamon County billed homeowners $215 million in 2017. This meant owners of a $127,000 Springfield home had a $2,600 property tax bill.

TAGS: collective bargaining, municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes, Sangamon County

Springfield population drops by nearly 1,000 residents from 2015-2016

04/07/2017

Illinoisans from all areas are leaving the state in droves, and Springfield lawmakers need look no farther than the state capital to see the proof.

TAGS: outmigration, population, Sangamon County, Springfield, U.S. Census Bureau