Joliet’s Tax Hike Sparks Outrage: What You Need to Know!

In a move that has left residents buzzing, the Joliet City Council has greenlit a budget that sets the stage for not only an increase in gas taxes but also a bump in property tax rates. Concerned citizens flooded local officials with calls, but the decision has been made.

Kevin Sing, the city’s finance director, unveiled a proposed budget of a whopping $662 million for 2025, a significant jump from this year’s $643 million. This plan includes raising the city’s fuel tax rate from 4 cents to 5 cents for passenger vehicles, and for diesel, the rate could surge from 4 cents to a staggering 11 cents—just slightly under Channahon’s current rate of 10 cents for diesel.

While the budget passed, city officials will need to cast another vote to finalize the hike in fuel tax rates, so stay tuned for that!

Sing noted that the property tax levy is set to soar by 6.5 percent, which means an extra $3 million flowing into city coffers. What does this mean for Joliet homeowners? If you’re a current property owner, you’ll be contributing 1 percent toward this tax levy, and if valuations hold steady, you might see a 1 percent increase in your property taxes. The other 5.5 percent of the increase will be covered by new developments.

Meanwhile, the general fund that fuels everyday city expenses—from hiring new personnel to vital road projects—is projected to rise from $221 million this year to $236 million in 2025.

Dylan Harrison, a lifelong Joliet resident, is feeling the heat. He loves his home but can’t help but worry about what the future holds for his family as taxes continue to climb.

“Every year, my taxes keep going up,” he expressed. “I get that it’s a little this time, but what about next year or the year after that? Chicago’s been tough with crime and taxes—what if Joliet heads that way too?”

Sing reassured the public that the proposed tax levy hike would translate to only a minor increase for existing property owners, putting to rest rumors that it could skyrocket by as much as $6,000. To put things in perspective, a homeowner with a $100,000 property would see just a $4 annual increase; for a $200,000 home, it’s $8; and for a $300,000 home, it’s only $12 per year. The average home value in Joliet? A comfortable $246,000, according to Mayor Terry D’Arcy.

Council member Jan Quillman voiced her concerns for the community, suggesting that the council might want to hit pause on the tax levy proposal to better explain the financial impact to residents. Unfortunately, her suggestion didn’t gain traction.

“People are maxing out their credit cards just to buy groceries and gas,” she lamented. “Many are barely getting by. We all need to live within our means.”

Despite the pushback, D’Arcy stood firm, framing the city’s decisions as necessary. “This isn’t Chicago; this is Joliet,” he asserted. “We’ve finely tuned this budget to keep things balanced. I’m here as a public servant, not a politician.”

And there’s more on the horizon—Sing highlighted that nearly $101 million from the city’s water and sewer fund is earmarked to replace 30 miles of aging water mains. In preparation for a major switch from the city’s well system to Lake Michigan water by 2030, the city will allocate $22.7 million for initial preparations, along with an additional $28.7 million for engineering efforts.

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