The District Reduced the Tax Impact by 35%

At the August 5 Regular Board of Education Meeting, the Troy 30-C Board of Education voted unanimously to place a revised referendum question on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

Throughout the spring of 2026, the Board and administration shared information about facility needs and financing options and gathered community feedback. Results of the feedback showed high tax sensitivity, as well as strong confidence in our schools.

We Listened

The revised proposal reduces the scope of the projects, resulting in a revised 35% reduction in tax impact from 70 cents down to 45 cents. Because the District is set to pay off existing debt in October 2027, this scaled-back request will result in a $0 net increase to your current property tax rate if approved.

If approved, the referendum would help prevent cuts to current student programming such as extracurriculars and personnel staffing levels.

• Troy 30‑C will be placing a limiting rate referendum on the November 2026 ballot to address operating and facility needs.
• The 45-cent limiting rate referendum is 35% lower than what was originally planned after receiving community input, effectively resulting in no net tax rate increase if approved by voters (explained in more detail below).
• Most of the District’s schools exceed their intended student capacity.
• The District’s enrollment is projected to exceed 4,000 students within four years, largely driven by new housing developments. This would further increase overcrowding.
• If approved by voters, the limiting rate referendum could allow the District to:
  • Prevent cuts to present teacher and educational support staffing levels
  • Maintain current academic and extracurricular programs
  • Maintain current class sizes
  • Address facility improvements for safety and security reasons
• The revised plan, after receiving community feedback, no longer includes building a new early childhood education center or renovations to the middle school.
• It has been 20 years since the District sought voter‑approved funding.

Community members are invited to attend and speak at Board of Education Meetings, Community Information Meetings, as well as follow district updates on Facebook, Instagram, and ParentSquare. 

Upcoming Community Information Meetings

Monday, September 21 - Hofer Elementary School Cafeteria (910 Vertin Blvd., Shorewood, IL 60404 please enter through Door 1)
Thursday, September 24 - Heritage Trail Elementary School Gym (3389 Longford Dr.,  Joliet, IL 60431 please enter through Door 4)
Tuesday, September 29 - Campus Schools, Meeting will be held in the William B. Orenic Intermediate School Gym (5820 Theodore St., Plainfield, IL 60586 please enter through Doors 1 & 13)
Wednesday, September 30 - Craughwell Elementary School Gym, This meeting will be presented in Spanish (3333 Black Rd., Joliet, IL 60431 please enter through Door 16) 

All Community Information Meetings will begin at 6:00pm

Community Information Meeting Recordings:

Tuesday, September 1 - Shorewood Elementary School Gym (210 School Rd., Shorewood, IL 60404 please enter through Door 1) 
Click here to listen to the September 1 Community Information Meeting

Tuesday, September 8 - Craughwell Elementary School Gym (3333 Black Rd., Joliet, IL 60431 please enter through Door 16)
Click here to listen to the September 8 Community Information Meeting

Thursday, September 10 - Cronin Elementary School Cafeteria (210 E. Black Rd., Shorewood, IL 60404 please enter through Doors 16 & 7)
Click here to listen to the September 10 Community Information Meeting

Many Troy 30‐C schools are already experiencing overcrowding. With several single‐family and multi-family developments planned within District boundaries, enrollment growth is expected to continue.

Needs were identified using the 2025 Facilities Master Plan, enrollment forecasting, professional building assessments, stakeholder input, and alignment with the Strategic Plan.

If additional funding is not approved, the District’s current outstanding long-term debt would still be paid off in 2027. However, the District would be forced to continue operating within existing revenue limits, which may result in:

• Larger class sizes due to staffing cuts
• Continued student overcrowding
• Elimination of certain instructional and extracurricular programs
• Growth in deferred maintenance

Following is the limiting rate referendum question that will appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

Ballot Question

Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for Troy Community Consolidated School District Number 30-C, Will County, Illinois, be increased by an additional amount equal to 0.4500% above the limiting rate for levy year 2025 for the purpose of providing educational programming and instruction, operating, maintaining, constructing and improving school buildings and facilities and constructing school safety and security improvements and for other school purposes, and be equal to 3.6241% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein for levy year 2026?

(1) The approximate amount of taxes extendable at the most recently extended limiting rate is $57,422,051, and the approximate amount of taxes extendable if the proposition is approved is $65,562,917.

(2) For the 2026 levy year the approximate amount of the additional tax extendable against property containing a single family residence and having a fair market value at the time of the referendum of $100,000 is estimated to be $150.

(3) If the proposition is approved, the aggregate extension for 2026 will be determined by the limiting rate set forth in the proposition, rather than the otherwise applicable limiting rate calculated under the provisions of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (commonly known as the Property Tax Cap Law).

Understanding the Ballot Question

The ballot question consists of four parts:

• First Paragraph (Not Numbered): Requests voter approval to increase the District's limiting tax rate by 45 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value (0.4500%). It also describes how the additional revenue may be used, including educational programs and instruction, school operations and maintenance, facility improvements, construction projects, and school safety and security improvements. Also, for reference, the limiting rate for the District for levy year 2025 was 3.1741% of the equalized assessed value of the subject taxable property.
• Second Paragraph (Item 1): Shows the estimated amount of property tax revenue the District could collect if the referendum is approved. The increase in annual tax authority is estimated at $8,140,866, calculated as follows:

$65,562,917 − $57,422,051 = $8,140,866.

• Third Paragraph (Item 2): Provides an estimated tax impact on a homeowner. For a single-family residence with a fair market value of $100,000, the estimated additional property tax is $150 per year.
• Fourth Paragraph (Item 3): Explains that, if approved, the District's tax levy will be calculated using the new voter-approved limiting rate rather than the lower rate otherwise permitted under Illinois' Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (Property Tax Cap Law).

Additional Context Regarding Expiring Debt and No Net Tax Rate Increase

• As noted above, the District's existing bond debt is scheduled to be paid off with the 2026 levy (taxes collected in 2027). As a result, the current debt-service tax rate is expected to expire. The proposed November 2026 45-cent operating tax rate increase would, in effect, be offset by the expiration of the existing 45-cent debt-service tax rate, resulting in no net tax rate increase for residents.