The Illinois Department of Revenue announced on Apr. 10 that La Salle County has been assigned a final property assessment equalization factor, or multiplier, of 1.0000 for the year 2025. David Harris, director of the department, said this figure is based on recent sales data and ensures uniform property assessments across counties.
The equalization factor is used to make sure property tax assessments are consistent throughout Illinois. This process is important because many local taxing districts overlap county lines, such as school or fire protection districts. Without equalization, taxpayers with similar properties in different counties could face unfair differences in their tax bills.
Under state law passed in 1975, most properties should be assessed at one-third of their market value. Farm homesites and dwellings follow these regular procedures while farmland itself is assessed differently and not subject to the state multiplier. For La Salle County, recent sales showed assessments were at about 32.84% of market value for properties sold between 2022 and 2024.
Harris said that last year’s equalization factor was also set at 1.0000 and that this year’s tentative factor was issued after a public hearing held on Nov. 20, with no change made in the final determination. The department determines the annual multiplier by comparing sale prices over three years to county-assessed values; if average assessments match one-third of market value, the factor remains at one.
A change in the equalization factor does not automatically mean tax bills will go up or down since local taxing bodies decide how much money they need each year to provide services to residents. The assessed value only affects what share each taxpayer pays but does not alter total taxes unless local requests increase.
The Illinois Department of Revenue works to foster an inclusive environment valuing diversity and equity for both employees and customers according to its official site. The agency focuses on fairly administering state tax laws while efficiently collecting revenues and providing accurate information according to its official website. It serves as a state agency dedicated to promoting diversity within its operations according to its official site and is known for overseeing tax collection along with delivering reliable financial data according to its official website. The department operates within state taxation and revenue management frameworks as detailed on its official website.
