Vermilion County residents will pay a little less for the county’s portion of their real estate tax bill next year. The County Board approved both its new 2024-2025 budget and tax levy during its meeting last night (Tuesday).
Finance Committee chairman Steve Miller says one of the large expenditures in the budget involves the planned replacement of all windows at the Joseph G. Cannon Building…
{AUDIO: “There are slightly more than a hundred windows in this building (Joseph G. Cannon Building). Many of them are forty and fifty years old. They cannot be rehabilitated because a lot of them have turned to dust. So, they are going to be largely replaced. And this project is going to be a separate $3.4 million dollars.”}
Miller noted that work being done by Centrica is continuing to advance at the Cannon Building and some other locations…
{AUDIO: “They’re doing very important work to the infrastructure of our county courthouse, this building, the health department. And that work is well underway. And we are going to realize significant savings on our energy bills, and have more dependable equipment so employees are working in a more comfortable environment.”}
Miller says a $3-million dollar increase in equalized assessed value for all property in the county is one factor that will allow for a small drop in the county’s portion of real estate tax bills next year. The grand total for the county’s new tax rate for fiscal year 2024-2025 is expected to be $1.595 per $100 of equalized assessed value. This year the rate is $1.74 (per $100 of equalized assessed value).
County Board Chairman Larry Baughn noted there may need to be a budget amendment later for replacement of the elevator in the Cannon building.
Board members also declared a vacancy in the Vermilion County Supervisor of Assessments position – effective December 1st, 2024. Mathew Long will be leaving that office to become the new Vermilion County Recorder. Long has served as Supervisor of Assessments since 2010.
County Board members also approved a transfer allowing a different company to assume plans for a small solar farm in the Ridge Farm area. Board members also learned the acreage necessary for the 5 mega-watt facility has been reduced from 30 acres to 18. The new company will assume the project, but Board Chairman Larry Baughn says – so far – no one has requested a build permit.
