The Illinois Department of Revenue announced on Apr. 2 that Pope County has been assigned a tentative property assessment equalization factor, or multiplier, of 1.0928 for taxes payable in 2026.
The multiplier is used to ensure uniform property assessments across counties, which is important because many local taxing districts overlap county lines. Without this equalization process, taxpayers with similar properties in different counties could face unequal tax burdens.
David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR), said the equalization factor helps meet legal requirements for fair property assessments among Illinois’ more than 6,600 local taxing districts. The department explained that state law requires most property to be assessed at one-third of its market value. Farm properties are assessed using different standards based on productivity and use.
Assessments in Pope County are currently at 30.50% of market value based on sales from the years 2022 through 2024. Last year’s equalization factor for the county was set at one (1.0000). The new tentative factor may change if the County Board of Review takes significant actions or if additional data is presented by officials or residents showing IDOR’s estimates should be adjusted. A public hearing will take place between 20 and 30 days after publication in a local newspaper.
A change in the multiplier does not automatically increase or decrease total property tax bills; these amounts depend on how much money local taxing bodies request each year to provide services. Individual taxpayers’ share is determined by their property’s assessed value relative to others in their district.
The Illinois Department of Revenue works to foster an inclusive environment that values diversity and equity for employees and customers, as stated on its official site. The agency also focuses on fairly administering state tax laws and efficiently collecting revenues while providing accurate information, according to its official website. It serves as a state agency dedicated to promoting diversity and equity in its operations according to its official site, oversees collection of state taxes and delivers reliable financial information according to its official website, and operates within state taxation and revenue management as detailed on its official website.
