Lowest Tax Rate On Record Approved By Oswego Village Board

OSWEGO, IL — Oswego trustees voted for the village's lowest tax rate on record during Tuesday's Village Board meeting.

The current levy is $1,845,047, while the proposed levy is $1,989,240, representing a $144,201 increase in dollars and a 2 percent decrease in rate, according to a memo from Finance Director Andrea Lamberg. This means that despite the levy increase, property taxes are going down.

Village President Ryan Kauffman joined trustees Karin McCarthy-Lange, Andrew Torres, Rachelle Koenig and James Cooper in supporting the 2026 property tax levy. Trustee Karen Novy was the only "no" vote. Trustee Jennifer Hughes was absent.

"It speaks to our commitment to help out the community by lowering the tax rate," Trustee McCarthy-Lange said.

The property tax levy rate was calculated using an estimated equalized assessed value of $1.54 billion, an amount based on the estimated EAV, as of Oct. 27, received from the Kendall County supervisor of assessments.

The final EAV may change due to assessment objections that can occur until the final sum is determined. Historically, the change has been "immaterial," Lamberg wrote in the memo.

Last year, the rate decreased by 5.55 percent, documents show.

"We keep breaking the record going down," Kauffman said.

The Village Board approved the levy ahead of the deadline to file with the Kendall County Clerk, which falls on the last Tuesday of December.