Christian County’s property assessments will stay the same this year, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue. The county has been given a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, meaning no adjustments were needed to balance property values.

The equalization factor, often called the “multiplier,” helps ensure fair property assessments across different counties. This is important because many taxing districts, like school and fire protection districts, cross county lines. Without equalization, similar properties in different counties could be taxed unfairly.

In Illinois, most properties are supposed to be assessed at one-third of their market value. Farmland is treated differently, with its value based on agricultural income rather than market price.

Assessments in Christian County currently average 33.42% of market value, based on sales from 2021 to 2023. The newly issued multiplier applies to 2024 property taxes, which will be due in 2025. Last year, the county also had a multiplier of 1.0000.

Each year, the state compares property sale prices to their assessed values to determine if adjustments are needed. If assessments average one-third of market value, the multiplier remains at 1.0000. A higher number means assessments are too low, while a lower number means they are too high.

However, the equalization factor does not directly change tax bills. Local governments decide how much tax money they need each year. If they don’t increase their funding requests, tax bills won’t go up—even if property assessments rise.

Simply put, the multiplier helps keep property values fair, but it doesn’t determine how much you owe in taxes.