St. Clair County seeking $50.8M from taxpayers to support 2026 budget
St. Clair County will ask taxpayers for $50.8 million to support the county budget, a 1.3% increase from last year.
Board members voted Monday night to finalize this year’s tax levy. The levy is typically set high in the fall and lowered the following spring after property assessments are finalized.
County Board Chairman Mark Kern said during the meeting that the county’s tax rate will drop from 0.9535 to 0.8959, which he described as a significant reduction.
Republican board member Ed Cockrell of District 20 pushed back on that framing.
“We don’t levy tax rates,” he said. “Tax rates are determined by the county clerk based upon the equalized assessed valuation and the levy from the county.”
The tax rate determines how much each property owner will pay.
A lower rate for St. Clair County means if a home’s value didn’t change, you’ll pay the county less than you did in 2025. But tax rates generally fall when overall property values increase, which is the case in St. Clair County for this tax cycle.
The amount of money the county is seeking from taxpayers is up from $50.2 million in 2025.
The money will be used in the general fund for the county’s daily operations and county employee pay, as well as funds for county-owned buildings, highways and bridges, veterans services and other programs.
Each unit of government in your community sets its own levy, which is reflected in a tax rate. School districts typically account for the largest share of a property tax bill. St. Clair County’s cost is lower because it’s spread among property owners countywide.
Cockrell cast the lone “no” vote on the tax levy.
Six County Board members were absent from the meeting: Democrats G.W. Scott Jr. of District 2; Ken Easterley of District 9; Jerry Dinges of District 15; Jana Moll of District 23; and Richie Meile of District 25; and Republican John Coers of District 28.
