DEKALB – The DeKalb City Council met Monday night to discuss the 2025 tax levy, approve a solar farm development, and talk about community events. Police Chief David Byrd. Byrd recognized Mayor Cohen Barnes and Alderwoman Barb Larson for their support of community engagement events such as FunJam, presenting them with citizen appreciation awards for their assistance in strengthening the relationship between residents and the DeKalb Police Department.
Public participation included remarks from former Alderman Bill Finucane and longtime broadcaster T.D. Ryan, who promoted the annual “Let’s Talk Turkey” and “Freezin’ for Food” drives to benefit the Salvation Army food pantry. Finucane said pantry demand has risen sharply, with as many as 80 families served daily. Ryan noted that this year marks the 25th anniversary of “Freezin’ for Food,” which has collected more than 2.5 million pounds of food since its start.
The council approved several resolutions, including a new three-year contract with Transdev Services Inc. to continue managing DeKalb’s bus operations, as well as the purchase of new diesel and hybrid buses using Rebuild Illinois grant funds. Aldermen also supported a three-year farm lease for 318 acres at the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport to be farmed by Halverson Farms, and approved reallocating $50,000 in unspent federal block grant funds to support a transitional youth housing project by Family Service Agency.
Council members also held a truth-in-taxation hearing before giving first reading approval to the 2025 property tax levy. The levy primarily funds police and fire pensions and is projected to result in a slight decrease in the city’s tax rate. The council also approved maintaining existing special service area levies, with one reduction for Hunter Ridgebrook due to unused funds.
The DeKalb City Council on Monday approved an ordinance abating taxes levied for corporate purposes related to the city’s general obligation debt. City Manager Bill Nicklas reviewed the city’s debt history, noting bonds tied to the 2012 police station construction, later public works upgrades, and subsequent refunding bonds issued in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. Nicklas said the city’s debt load is declining, with one major bond set to be retired in 2028 and the last due in 2039.
Nicklas told council members that DeKalb currently pays about $2.33 million annually in debt service from its general fund rather than through a tax levy, and that by 2028 that figure could drop to about $400,000. He said the city continues to cover capital needs such as street maintenance, vehicle replacement, fire facility repairs, and police equipment with about $2 million from reserves in the coming year. Including the abatement, the total draw from reserves is projected at roughly $6.2 million.
Council members discussed the city’s long-term financial strategy and the importance of maintaining reserves without burdening taxpayers. Aldermen Vern Verbic and Scott McAdams emphasized affordability and monitoring potential deficit spending throughout the year. Mayor Cohen Barnes and other members credited recent economic development for helping diversify the tax base and keep the city’s rate stable.
Following the abatement vote, the council tabled consideration of another ordinance, a zoning amendment for 145 Fisk Avenue until Dec. 8 to allow additional engineering work. Members also approved a final development plan for a five-megawatt solar farm at the southwest corner of Illinois Route 38 and John Huber Parkway, a project by PureSky Energy.
