AN INVENTORY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN ILLINOIS February 25, 2021 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 DIFFERENCES AMONG REPORTING AGENCIES ........................................................................................................... 3 MAJOR FINDINGS ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 Additional Findings ............................................................................................................................................ 10 METHODOLOGY & DATA ......................................................................................................................................... 10 OVERVIEW OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ........................................................................................................ 13 DESCRIPTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ................................................................................................................. 13 General Purpose Local Governments ................................................................................................................ 13 Special Purpose Local Governments ................................................................................................................. 15 POPULATIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN ILLINOIS ............................................................................................. 23 COMPARISON OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN ILLINOIS AND SELECTED STATES ........................................................ 27 PROPERTY TAXES IN ILLINOIS ................................................................................................................................. 38 COMPARISON OF PROPERTY TAXES IN ILLINOIS AND SELECTED STATES ................................................................. 43 Sample Property Taxes in Illinois by Region ..................................................................................................... 45 SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN ILLINOIS .............................................................................. 50 Sources of Revenue ............................................................................................................................................ 51 Revenues of Selected Governments .................................................................................................................... 54 Counties ............................................................................................................................................................. 56 Municipalities .................................................................................................................................................... 57 Townships .......................................................................................................................................................... 58 Special Districts ................................................................................................................................................. 59 Public School Districts ....................................................................................................................................... 63 Community College Districts ............................................................................................................................. 64 INVENTORY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN ILLINOIS .............................................................................. 65 COUNTIES (SORTED BY POPULATION) — COUNT: 102 ............................................................................................. 67 TOWNSHIPS (SORTED BY COUNTY) — COUNT: 1,426 .............................................................................................. 68 MUNICIPALITIES (SORTED BY COUNTY) — COUNT: 1,298 ...................................................................................... 80 MUNICIPALITIES (SORTED BY POPULATION) — COUNT: 1,298 ................................................................................ 91 Home Rule Municipalities — Count: 217 ........................................................................................................ 101 SPECIAL DISTRICTS (SORTED BY TYPE AND COUNTY) — COUNT: 6,097 ................................................................ 103 Airport Authorities: 28 ..................................................................................................................................... 103 Cemetery Districts: 74 ..................................................................................................................................... 103 Community College Districts: 39 ..................................................................................................................... 104 Conservation Districts: 5 ................................................................................................................................. 105 Drainage Districts: 970 ................................................................................................................................... 105 Electric Agencies: 2 ......................................................................................................................................... 115 Civic Center, Exposition and Auditorium Authorities: 25 ............................................................................... 115 Fire Protection Districts: 849 .......................................................................................................................... 115 Flood Prevention Districts: 6 ........................................................................................................................... 123 Forest Preserve Districts: 14 ........................................................................................................................... 123 Home Equity Programs: 3 ............................................................................................................................... 124 Hospital Districts: 19 ....................................................................................................................................... 124 Housing Authorities: 111 ................................................................................................................................. 124 Joint Action Water Agencies: 5 ........................................................................................................................ 126 Mass Transit Districts: 21 ................................................................................................................................ 126 Mosquito Abatement Districts: 22.................................................................................................................... 127 Multi-Township Tax Assessment Districts: 334 ............................................................................................... 127 Museum Districts: 3 ......................................................................................................................................... 132 Natural Gas Agencies: 2 .................................................................................................................................. 132 Park Districts: 369 ........................................................................................................................................... 132 Planning Agencies: 1 ....................................................................................................................................... 136 Port Districts: 14 ............................................................................................................................................. 136 Public Building Commissions: 24 .................................................................................................................... 137 Public Health Districts: 8 ................................................................................................................................ 137 Public Library Districts: 389 ........................................................................................................................... 137 Public Water District: 24 ................................................................................................................................. 141 Rescue Squad Districts: 6 ................................................................................................................................ 142 River Conservancy Districts: 17 ...................................................................................................................... 142 Road and Bridge Districts: 1,391 .................................................................................................................... 142 Road Districts: 79 ............................................................................................................................................ 154 Sanitary Districts: 119 ..................................................................................................................................... 154 School Districts: 852 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