The Illinois property tax system, while not difficult to understand, tends to mystify property owners because of the large number of officials and agencies involved in the cycle. The property tax differs significantly from the income tax and consumption taxes, such as sales taxes and excise taxes on cigarettes, liquor, and gasoline. It is an ad valorem tax based on the principle that the amount of tax paid should depend on the value of real estate owned, and not on consumption levels or one's earning potential.

Two major activities comprise the Illinois property tax system: THE LEVY PROCESS - The determination of the amount of money needed through taxation to fund government programs, and THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS - The determination of the share of the tax burden for which each property owner is responsible.

Benton Township currently contains 24 taxing authorities that combine into 49 different tax districts. Each taxing authority, on a yearly basis, undertakes the budget and levy process. During this phase of the cycle the taxing bodies will determine their future programs which will be funded through the property tax system. Each district's annual formal hearing on the budget is your opportunity to question the taxing district's Board of Trustees on future spending programs financed through the property tax.