Voters across Illinois will decide on at least 53 binding ballot questions related to taxes and public debt this November, according to a new report from the Illinois Policy Institute released in 2026. The measures include property tax hikes, new sales taxes, and bond authorizations that range from roughly $1 million to more than $350 million. The questions give residents in dozens of local jurisdictions a direct say over whether their tax bills will rise.
At least 27 ballot questions ask voters to approve increases in property taxes, either by authorizing a higher levy or creating an entirely new one. Among the jurisdictions seeking property tax hikes are eight fire protection districts, six school districts, the Bourbonnais Library District, the Herrin Park District, and Antioch Township. On the sales tax front, Adams, Crawford, Lake, and Tazewell counties will each ask residents to approve a new 1% sales tax for school-related purposes. The village of Coulterville wants to double its municipal sales tax from 0.5% to 1%, while Crawford County has a separate 1% sales tax on tangible personal property earmarked for public safety. At least 19 public entities—including 12 school districts, three library districts, two fire protection districts, the Skokie Park District, the village of Lake Zurich, and Moraine Valley Community College District 524—are asking voters to authorize bond debt.
The report notes that bond debt translates into higher taxes for residents, though the form varies. Some districts openly acknowledge the property tax increase that will follow: Carpentersville Community Unit School District 300 estimates its proposed $355 million bond would raise property taxes by about $101 annually on a $400,000 home, citing the Daily Herald. Other districts avoid a tax increase by preventing an existing tax from expiring—bonds are typically backed by dedicated tax revenue, and when old debt is paid off, new bonds can be issued using the same revenue stream. Districts often label this approach "tax neutral," but the report explains that without new debt, the revenue could instead be returned to taxpayers.
Bond questions illustrate how public debt and taxation are intertwined in ways that aren't always obvious on the ballot. When a taxing district pays off existing bonds, it has a choice: let the tax expire and give money back to residents, or issue new bonds and keep collecting the same amount. The latter keeps tax bills steady rather than lowering them, which is why the report challenges the "tax neutral" framing. Meanwhile, explicit tax hikes—like the property levy increases or new sales taxes—are more straightforward, directly raising what residents pay. The breadth of the questions, spanning fire districts, libraries, parks, schools, and counties, shows how many layers of local government can independently ask voters for more revenue.
The report concludes by highlighting the opportunity for residents who care about taxes. It states that if you're among the 53% of Illinoisans who rank taxes as a top issue facing the state and live in one of these districts, this election is your chance to weigh in. For voters in jurisdictions with these measures, the November ballot isn't just about candidates—it's a referendum on whether their tax burden will grow.