East Central Reporter

Douglas County has received a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000 for 2025, according to David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR). The equalization factor, also known as the "multiplier," is used to ensure that property assessments are uniform across counties in Illinois.

This process is important because many local taxing districts, such as school and fire protection districts, span more than one county. Without this equalization, taxpayers with similar properties in different counties could face unequal tax burdens.

By law, most property in Illinois must be assessed at one-third of its market value. However, farm properties are treated differently; while homesites and dwellings on farms follow regular assessment procedures, farmland and farm buildings are assessed based on productivity standards.

The annual equalization factor for each county is determined by comparing the sales prices of properties sold over the previous three years to their assessed values. If the average level of assessment matches one-third of market value, the multiplier is set at 1.0000. If assessments are higher or lower than this standard, the multiplier adjusts accordingly.

"Assessments in Douglas County are at 33.33% of market value, based on sales of properties in 2022, 2023, and 2024," according to IDOR.

The current tentative multiplier will apply to taxes for 2025 payable in 2026. Last year’s factor was also set at 1.0000.

"The tentative factor is subject to change (1) if the County Board of Review takes actions which significantly affect the county assessments, or (2) if local officials or others can present data showing that IDOR's estimates of the average level of assessments in the county should be adjusted," said Harris. A public hearing about the tentative multiplier will take place between 20 and 30 days after it is published in a local newspaper.

A change in the equalization factor does not directly impact total property tax bills. Tax bills depend on how much money local taxing bodies request each year for services. If these requests do not increase from one year to the next, overall property taxes remain unchanged even if individual assessments rise.

"The assessed value of an individual property determines what portion of the tax burden a specific taxpayer will assume. That individual's portion of tax responsibility is not changed by the multiplier," Harris explained.