The Illinois Department of Revenue announced on Apr. 17 that Morgan County has received a final property assessment equalization factor, or multiplier, of 1.0000 for the upcoming tax year. The announcement was made by David Harris, director of the department.
The equalization factor is used to ensure uniform property assessments among counties in Illinois. This process helps prevent disparities in tax burdens for taxpayers with similar properties across different counties, especially since many local taxing districts such as school and fire protection districts span multiple counties.
Under state law enacted in 1975, most properties in Illinois are required to be assessed at one-third of their market value. Farm homesites and dwellings follow standard assessing procedures, while farmland itself is assessed at one-third its agricultural economic value and does not use the state equalization factor. In Morgan County, recent assessments were found to be at 33.81% of market value based on sales from the past three years.
This new multiplier applies to taxes payable in 2026 and follows last year’s figure of 0.9829 for the county. The final figure was set after a public hearing that followed an initial tentative factor issued earlier this year. According to Harris, “The property assessment equalization factor, often called the ‘multiplier,’ is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law.” He also said that a change in the multiplier does not necessarily mean total property tax bills will rise or fall because local taxing bodies determine how much money they request each year.
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 department focuses on fairly administering state tax laws and efficiently collecting revenues while providing accurate information according to its official website. It also serves as a state agency dedicated to promoting diversity and equity in its operations according to its official site.
As reported by its official website, the department oversees collection of state taxes and delivers reliable financial information while operating within state taxation and revenue management.
