Town Hall · Waukegan

Waukegan, IL town hall & government

Waukegan spent $147.2 million in the year to April 30, 2023, about $1,661 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Waukegan's government.

Town budget

Where Waukegan's money goes

Spent
$147.2 million
fiscal year to April 30, 2023
Per resident
$1,661
typical Illinois cities: $2,226
Long-term debt
$451.2 million
$5,092 per resident
Police
$46.9 million32%
Fire
$28.8 million20%
Interest on debt
$17.4 million12%
Sewer & trash
$11.6 million8%
Administration & buildings
$11.3 million8%
Roads & transportation
$10.1 million7%
Water & other utilities
$9.2 million6%
Parks & libraries
$5.2 million4%
Housing & development
$3.4 million2%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$2.8 million2%
Other
$574,000<1%

Where the money comes from

  • From the state 28%
  • Property taxes 25%
  • Sales taxes 17%
  • Utility sales 9%
  • Interest, fines & other 6%
  • From the federal government 6%
  • Fees & charges 6%
  • Other taxes & licenses 4%
Town workforce

Who works for Waukegan

Full-time staff
559
18 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$101,800
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
152
and 118 full-time firefighters
Police
215 full-time
Fire
125 full-time
Administration & buildings
82 full-time2 part
Parks & libraries
35 full-time8 part
Roads & transportation
20 full-time1 part
Water & other utilities
19 full-time
Sewer & trash
7 full-time
Housing & development
3 full-time
Other
53 full-time7 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Warren Township High School District 121

Waukegan's high school district, shared with Gurnee, Park City, Warren, Old Mill Creek, Wadsworth and Newport. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$20,075
Illinois: $21,567
Students
3,687
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$73.6 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Illinois districts overall: 52% local, 38% state, 10% federal

  • Local 69%
  • State 27%
  • Federal 3%

Of the $20,075 per pupil, $12,235 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Also serving Waukegan: Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 ($23,440 per pupil) · Libertyville Community High School District 128 ($33,792 per pupil) · Woodland Community Consolidated School District 50 ($23,456 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Waukegan pay

Typical tax bill
$4,759
a year · Illinois typical $5,298
Effective rate
2.49%
of home value · Illinois 2.01%
Typical home value
$190,900
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Waukegan's government

🏛️ Official websitewaukeganil.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Waukegan →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Waukegan

Waukegan is represented in Congress by Senators Richard J. Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and Representative Bradley Scott Schneider. J. B. Pritzker is governor.

All of Waukegan's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Waukegan

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