"Understanding Property Taxes in Rock Falls | City Administrator Robbin Blackert Explains"

Property taxes are one of the biggest concerns for Rock Falls residents, but few people know exactly where their money goes. On this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr talks with Rock Falls City Administrator Robbin Blackert about how property taxes are calculated, why schools and pensions make up such a large portion of the bill, and why road work is not included. If you’ve ever been confused by your tax bill or wanted a clearer picture of how the city manages funds, this conversation is for you.👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more local stories from Rock Falls and beyond.🎧 Listen to the full podcast and explore more at https://theradar.online🎤 Timestamps & Highlights:00:44 – Top community concerns: Roads and property taxes01:18 – Today’s focus: Property taxes explained01:33 – How to access your property tax bill02:00 – Who gets your tax dollars? Breakdown of governing bodies02:42 – Pie chart overview: Schools, city, county, and more03:01 – Only 20% of taxes go to the City of Rock Falls03:11 – Why roads aren’t funded by property taxes03:31 – How road work is funded 04:03 – Why property taxes are higher in Rock Falls06:38 – Funding fire & police operations separately from pensions08:28 – General fund vs utilities in tax allocation08:52 – Why tax bills didn’t go down despite levy decreases09:53 – Levy growth trends and Truth in Taxation hearings10:49 – Comparing Rock Falls with Sterling and smaller towns11:36 – Differences between Illinois and other states’ school tax systems12:30 – How to appeal property taxes12:58 – Rock Falls financial outlook & future pension costsFollow us on all social media platforms below:https://www.facebook.com/radarfreepresshttps://www.youtube.com/@radarfreepresshttps://open.spotify.com/show/0dOeaVg1JI0ump4iD0rIHkhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/along-the-rock/id1773156790https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-along-the-rock-245007958/https://rumble.com/radarfreepresshttps://www.tiktok.com/@radarfreepresshttps://x.com/radarfreepresshttps://www.instagram.com/radarfreepress/https://www.threads.net/@radarfreepressHashtags