By Steven Stilt
The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees approved the college’s 2025 tax levy request on Monday, following a Truth in Taxation hearing that drew a large crowd and a number of comments from the audience.
The board approved a levy request totaling $14,674,438, which is 17.129 percent greater than last year’s levy. KC President George Evans noted that the levy request had been reduced by $225,000 from the previously published request, based on revenue the college now anticipates receiving from the sale of college property that is no longer useful to KC.
During the Truth in Taxation hearing, college officials explained the process through which they arrived at the levy request and broke down how the levy would impact property tax bills in surrounding counties. Officials say the levy would result in an estimated increase of eight dollars and five cents for every $100,000 of property Fair Cash Value in Marion County. In Clinton County, the increase would be approximately seven dollars and 83 cents per $100,000. The largest increase would be seen in Bond County, at around 17 dollars and 39 cents per $100,000.
Several individuals from the public made comments during the hearing, including current and former KC students who commented about how the school had given them an opportunity to advance their education without taking on debt. Meanwhile, other speakers questioned the board about whether certain expenditures were necessary, such as the construction of a new gymnasium on campus, and asked what sorts of expenditure cuts the trustees had considered or enacted.
Evans says he understands the public’s frustration and wants to do what is best for the taxpayers.
“I’ll never be able to convince everybody,” Evans said. “I understand that, but I hope that they spend more time out here and come look through our books, look and see how important it is for us when we start the budgeting process seven months ago, to where we are tonight, and see how much detail that we put into running an institution of this caliber.”
College officials told the audience that several factors have added to the challenge of keeping expenses down, including unfunded mandates from the state of Illinois, inconsistent state and federal funding levels, and rising costs related to utilities and employee health insurance.
In other action on Monday, the board approved the hiring of Madison Althoff as Nashville Education Center coordinator. Evans says the Nashville center is back open and scheduling is back on track for the spring semester.
