Lake County Gazette

The Coal City Community Unit District #1 Board of Education has placed its tentative property tax levy on file for the upcoming year. For tax year 2025, payable in 2026, the district is seeking to collect $39.5 million in property taxes, which represents a 21.77% increase over the previous year's extension.

The levy is based on the equalized assessed value (EAV) of properties within the district. As of October 30, the Grundy County Assessor's Office estimated this value at $1.4 billion, with a rate-setting EAV just over $990 million after accounting for exemptions and tax increment financing adjustments. Of that amount, $520 million comes from Constellation’s Dresden Nuclear Generating Station, determined by an agreement between the company and seven local taxing bodies including the school district.

The Coal City Community Unit School District 1 serves both Grundy and Will counties and includes several schools such as Coal City Early Childhood Center, Coal City Elementary School, Coal City High School, Coal City Intermediate School, and Coal City Middle School (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).

Chief School Business Official Jason Smith prepared two scenarios for the tentative levy: one assuming no change in the assessed value of the GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy facility in Goose Lake Township and another reflecting an increase above current values recognized by county officials. The board approved the latter scenario at its November 5 meeting.

“For the last four years we have filed tax objections against the valuation,” Smith explained. “What the levy represents is one that places additional value — about $200 million more— than what the Board of Review has traditionally placed on GE-Hitachi. That figure is based on an appraisal commissioned by the school district and six other public bodies that receive tax payments from that site.”

He added, “That is what we believe to be the true value of the facility, and that will be our argument before the Board of Review.” Now that property values have been published throughout Grundy County, appeals or objections must be filed within 30 days.

Smith noted that setting a higher tentative levy allows the district to capture any additional value assigned to GE-Hitachi if their appeal succeeds.

“If the Board of Review should rule in our favor, we will be able to capture that portion of the EAV. Remember this is a mechanism for us to be able to capture the value that we are arguing for with respect to the GE-Hitachi facility,” Smith said.

The GE-Hitachi facility stores high-level nuclear waste shipped from several states and remains unique as it is currently "the only high-level nuclear waste storage site in the country." The district first objected to its valuation in 2021 when its EAV was adjusted from $3.2 million to $6.13 million; no further changes have occurred since then. The district plans another objection soon and has appealed past valuations for tax years 2021–2024 with state authorities.

Superintendent Chris Spencer clarified how this affects taxpayers: “Taxes are not going up 22%. The proposed increase simply ensures the district can capture any additional dollars if our valuation appeal is successful.”

Smith also indicated possible adjustments before final adoption of this levy. A Truth in Taxation hearing will take place at 6:00 p.m., December 3 during a regular board meeting.

The final version must be approved and submitted by mid-December; related hearings are expected early next year with final extensions completed in spring.

Coal City Community Unit School District 1 reported spending $21,619 per student in 2020 with total expenditures reaching $47 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to state data, it employs 153 teachers earning an average salary of $69,297; most are women (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The student population is predominantly White at nearly 87%, with Hispanic students making up almost 10% (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).

The tentative levy document can be reviewed by residents on the financial operations page under the district tab on its website.