5 days ago

Season 2, Episode 125
Ever wondered why your property taxes in Rock Falls keep changing—or why they don’t seem to cover road repairs? In this episode of Along the Rock, Nathan Stahr sits down with City Administrator Robbin Blackert for a straightforward breakdown of where your tax dollars go, how pensions impact the city budget, and what residents should know about assessments and appeals. Watch now to understand the real story behind your tax bill.

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🎤 Timestamps & Highlights:

00:44 – Top community concerns: Roads and property taxes
01:18 – Today’s focus: Property taxes explained
01:33 – How to access your property tax bill
02:00 – Who gets your tax dollars? Breakdown of governing bodies
02:42 – Pie chart overview: Schools, city, county, and more
03:01 – Only 20% of taxes go to the City of Rock Falls
03:11 – Why roads aren’t funded by property taxes
03:31 – How road work is funded
04:03 – Why property taxes are higher in Rock Falls
06:38 – Funding fire & police operations separately from pensions
08:28 – General fund vs utilities in tax allocation
08:52 – Why tax bills didn’t go down despite levy decreases
09:53 – Levy growth trends and Truth in Taxation hearings
10:49 – Comparing Rock Falls with Sterling and smaller towns
11:36 – Differences between Illinois and other states’ school tax systems
12:30 – How to appeal property taxes
12:58 – Rock Falls financial outlook & future pension costs