Future Focus

• 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 33% 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 at public information meetings, as well as follow district updates on Facebook, Instagram, and ParentSquare. 

Community Information Meeting Dates:

Tuesday, September 1 - Shorewood Elementary School Cafeteria (210 School Rd., Shorewood, IL 60404)
Tuesday, September 8 - Craughwell Elementary School Cafeteria (3333 Black Rd., Joliet, IL 60431)
Thursday, September 10 - Cronin Elementary School Cafeteria (210 E. Black Rd., Shorewood, IL 60404)
Monday, September 21 - Hofer Elementary School Cafeteria (910 Vertin Blvd., Shorewood, IL 60404)
Thursday, September 24 - Heritage Trail Elementary School Cafeteria (3389 Longford Dr.,  Joliet, IL 60431)
Tuesday, September 29 - Campus Schools, Meeting will be held in the William B. Orenic Intermediate School Gym (5820 Theodore St., Plainfield, IL 60586)

All Community Information Meetings will take place from 6:00pm - 7:30pm
 

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.

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.