Joliet, IL – Will County residents will see a lower property tax rate from the Forest Preserve District in 2026 after commissioners unanimously approved the District’s new budget on Nov. 13. The $83 million spending plan is balanced and reflects a 6.78% decrease in the overall tax rate compared to the previous year.
According to the Forest Preserve, the 2026 budget is $19 million lower than the year prior due to the completion of the first year of its capital plan. The 2025 tax levy, payable in 2026, totals $26.9 million, up slightly from $26.7 million.
Executive Director Tracy Chapman said the District’s progress over the past year includes the acquisition of nearly 800 acres, funded through a voter-approved $50 million bond issued in 2024. The bond supports the 2025–2030 Capital Improvement Program. “Every acre we protect and every project we complete adds to the legacy we’re building,” Chapman said.
Finance Director Rachel Mayer noted that the District’s tax rate is continuing a years-long decline. A homeowner with a $350,000 property paid $95.17 in 2024 and will pay approximately $89.08 under the 2025 levy—a savings of around $6. “It illustrates how our rate and levy decisions translate into real, small-dollar savings,” Mayer said.
The 2026 budget includes HVAC replacement at the Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, new police vehicles and maintenance equipment, and a $310,000 network upgrade.
Dozens of improvement and restoration projects are planned across the county’s preserves and trails, including upgrades at Isle a la Cache, Hammel Woods, Plum Creek, the DuPage River Trail, Veterans Memorial Trail, Riverview Farmstead, Hidden Lakes, and multiple large-scale restoration efforts totaling over 900 acres.
Funding will come from property taxes, operating fund transfers, bond proceeds, grants, and mitigation funds.
The Forest Preserve District of Will County manages more than 23,900 acres and 135 miles of trail countywide.
