Champaign council signals it will keep property tax rate at 1.3152
No formal vote at Oct. 13 study session; city staff said health insurance costs could rise 30% to 80%
CHAMPAIGN - City Council members told staff Tuesday, Oct. 13, to plan on keeping Champaign's property tax rate at 1.3152, the current rate presented by city staff at the study session.
Because it was a study session, the council took no formal vote. The mayor polled members on keeping the rate unchanged and approving the recommended budget strategy; members answered yes, and staff were told they had direction.
As presented by city staff at the study session, the most likely estimate of 4.43% property value growth would produce a levy of about $39.5 million, while optimistic growth of 10.78% would produce about $41.9 million. Staff recommended adopting the optimistic figure, noting the city can reduce or abate it later.
Staff also forecast health insurance costs rising about 30%, possibly as high as 80% without plan changes. At 30%, the city would be about $2.7 million above its financial policy target, staff said.
Staff said the council would consider the estimated levy Nov. 10 and adopt the levy Dec. 15.
The written staff report was not publicly available.
Source: City of Champaign CGTV video of the Oct. 13, 2026, City Council study session (https://champaign-cablecast.cablecast.tv/show/6019)