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Each November, the Coal City Community Unit District #1 Board of Education places its tentative property tax levy on file as part of its annual process to fund operations for the upcoming year.
For the 2025 tax year, payable in 2026, the district is seeking $39.5 million in property taxes. This represents a 21.77% increase over last year's extension. The levy calculation is based on the equalized assessed value (EAV) of district properties. As of October 30, the Grundy County Assessor's Office estimated this value at $1.4 billion, with a rate-setting EAV just above $990 million after exemptions and tax increment financing adjustments are factored in.
Of that $990 million EAV, $520 million comes from Constellation’s Dresden Nuclear Generating Station, a figure determined through an agreement between the company and seven local taxing bodies including the school district.
A legal notice will be posted in a local newspaper announcing a public hearing on the proposed levy. The district states that while this may appear concerning to taxpayers, it serves as protection for their interests.
Chief School Business Official Jason Smith developed two scenarios for preparing the tentative 2025 levy: one assuming no change in assessed value for GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy facility in Goose Lake Township and another reflecting an increase above what has been recognized by county authorities. The board approved the latter version at its November 5 meeting.
“For the last four years we have filed tax objections against the valuation,” Smith explained. “What the levy represents is one that places additional value — about $200 million more— than what the Board of Review has traditionally placed on GE-Hitachi. That figure is based on an appraisal commissioned by the school district and six other public bodies that receive tax payments from that site.”
He continued: “That is what we believe to be the true value of the facility, and that will be our argument before the Board of Review.” Property values throughout Grundy County have now been published; appeals or objections must be filed within 30 days.
Smith said this approach positions Coal City CUSD #1 to benefit if additional value is assigned to GE-Hitachi property: “If the Board of Review should rule in our favor, we will be able to capture that portion of the EAV. Remember this is a mechanism for us to be able to capture the value that we are arguing for with respect to the GE-Hitachi facility.”
The GE-Hitachi site houses high-level nuclear waste from several states and is unique as such in America. The district first objected to its valuation in 2021 when it was raised from $3.2 million to $6.13 million; no further changes have occurred since then. Another objection will be filed soon along with an appeal covering previous years.
Superintendent Chris Spencer clarified: “Taxes are not going up 22%. The proposed increase simply ensures the district can capture any additional dollars if our valuation appeal is successful.”
Smith noted there could still be adjustments before adoption: a Truth in Taxation hearing will take place at 6 p.m., December 3 during a regular board meeting.
Final approval and filing must occur by mid-December; related hearings are expected early next year with final extensions completed later in spring.
Coal City Community Unit School District 1 serves areas within Grundy and Will counties and includes multiple schools such as Coal City Early Childhood Center, Elementary School, Intermediate School, Middle School, and High School (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district reported spending about $21,619 per student during 2020 (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/), totaling over $47 million annually.
According to state data (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/), there are currently 153 teachers employed by Coal City CUSD #1 with an average salary near $69,300; most teachers have strong attendance records with none exceeding ten absences per year. Student demographics show roughly 87 percent White students alongside smaller percentages identifying as Hispanic, Black or Asian (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
