Elgin’s proposed 2026 budget includes a 13.2% property tax hike to help cover growing costs, capital projects, new employees, and police and fire pensions.

In advance of budget review meetings that start Wednesday, the Elgin City Council was given an overview Wednesday of the $407.6 million spending plan by City Manager Rick Kozal.

He noted that Elgin “has not increased its general property tax levy for more than a decade,” something they’ve been able to achieve by diversifying the city’s revenue streams starting in 2012 so that core city operations were funded without requiring more property tax money.

However, “inflationary pressure necessitates an increase in revenue to continue providing the services residents have come to expect,” he said. “Today, the city is being confronted with

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