Rochelle adopts budget; tax hearings set before millage vote

The Rochelle City Council adopted its 2027 budget of $1,154,800.00 at its Nov. 4 meeting, but a final vote on the proposed property tax rate will wait until three public hearings are completed. Mayor McGuinty said he favors keeping the millage rate at 16.5 mills rather than reducing it to the rollback rate of 15.547 mills. He apologized for an earlier statement about the notice and hearing requirements, explaining that retaining the existing rate would require the city to follow the public hearing process because of increased revenue associated with property values. He stated the law used to not require hearings and notice if you kept the same rate, but now if you don’t take the rollback rate, you must hold hearings before adopting. The mayor announced hearings for Nov. 18 at 7 p.m., Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. and Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. The third hearing is planned for the December council meeting, when the council will take its final vote on the millage rate.

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