Upcoming Deadlines (And Our New Website)

JKC Got a New Look!

Big news: John Kasperek Co., Inc. has a brand-new website, and it’s dressed to impress, just like John in his signature suspenders on our About page. 🎉

The site is now sleek, user-friendly, and packed with the latest municipal updates, guides, and resources. Whether you’re here for audit tips or just to admire the JKC crew in our pixelated glory, we promise a smooth experience.

Upcoming Deadlines

Tax Levy Ordinance (Due Dec. 30)

Tax levies must be announced 20 days prior to passage and must be passed and filed with the county clerk by the last Tuesday in December. A valid budget or appropriation ordinance must be in place first.

→ (65 ILCS 5/8-3-1)

Truth in Taxation

If the proposed levy exceeds 105% of last year’s total extensions, a newspaper notice and public hearing are required. The hearing cannot coincide with the budget hearing.

Notice Requirements:
Minimum size: 1/8 page, 12‑point font, black border ≥ ¼ inch
Not allowed in legal‑notices or classified section
Hearing held 7–14 days after publication
Must also be posted on the municipality’s website if staffed

Failure to post online does not invalidate the levy or notice.

Useful links from IML

2025 Calendar of Statutory Duties for Municipal Officials: IML Calendar
Tax Levy Ordinances & Truth in Taxation Requirements: IML Guide PDF

From the Writer

Hello Municipal and Community Partners,

I wanted to take this opportunity to (re)introduce myself and to highlight the purpose of The Public Ledger, our ongoing resource for municipal officials and staff. My name is Al Vaughn and I'm the Operations and Content Coordinator at JKC.

The Public Ledger provides clear, timely, and practical guidance on the matters that shape local government operations and employees. We focus on useful resources like:

News and updates on legislative and regulatory changes (which, as we know, is pretty constant)
Step-by-step process guides for budgeting, levies, and compliance
Analysis and commentary to support informed decision-making
Checklists, tools, and templates to simplify administrative workflows

We've had some questions about the changes surrounding Public Service Loan Forgiveness and what it could mean for governments and not-for-profit organizations. Keep an eye out in your inbox weekly for those updates!

If you have any questions about anything related to public accounting, TIFs, or upcoming changes in tax laws and funding that may affect your community, please reach out to me at avaughn@kasperekcpa.com, and I'll have our experts answer your questions.

Thank you for your continued trust and readership.

Al Vaughn

What municipal mystery keeps you up at night? Send it our way and we’ll tackle it in a future issue.

Important Note:

Our guidance is intended to support organizational understanding and compliance. We do not provide individual financial or legal advice. Employees and individuals should consult their personal financial advisor, loan servicer, or legal counsel regarding decisions related to their student loans or repayment options.

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