Belleview's final 2026-27 tax rate is 5.5 mills, 15.56% above rolled-back rate

The final operating millage rate for Belleview’s 2026-27 fiscal year is 5.5000 mills. That rate is 15.56% higher than the rolled-back rate of 4.7596 mills. At the Belleview City Commission’s Sept. 29 meeting, Commissioner Michael Goldman moved to approve Resolution 26-12, the final millage for 2026-27. The comptroller stated that the final budget for the fiscal year totals $45,272,260.

Mayor Christine Dobkowski stated for the record that tax revenues are increasing because of growth and increased property value.

The comptroller had stated that the tentative budget for the fiscal year totals $45,454,272. The comptroller gave a brief overview of the budget that included the correction of a calculation error. The correction reduced property tax and fund balance reserve by $182,012. Property tax revenue went from $2,989,211 in the adopted tentative budget to $2,807,199 in the proposed final budget. Fund balance and reserves went from $16,888,686 to $16,706,674.

Commissioner Michael Goldman moved to approve the tax rate, and Commissioner Ronald T. Livsey seconded. Commissioner Ray Dwyer moved to approve Resolution 26-13, and Goldman seconded. That vote was 5-0. Commissioner Robert “Bo” Smith noted for the public that there had not been an increase in seven years, even as materials, services, operations and personnel costs rose. At the Sept. 29 meeting, no one came forward to comment.

At its Sept. 15 meeting, the commission reached a consensus to set the millage at 5.5000. A certification of taxable value, Form DR-420, lists a proposed aggregate millage rate of 5.7500 per $1,000. The same form lists that proposed rate as 20.81% above the rolled-back rate.