Knox County taxpayers paid $575,818 in County School Facility Tax in August, according to Illinois tax records.
This figure marks a significant decrease from the previous month, when County School Facility Tax collection stood at $616,264.
Over the past 12 months, Knox County’s residents have collectively paid a total of $6.5 million in County School Facility Tax.
The County School Facility Tax is a local sales tax that funds school construction and repairs. The tax is typically imposed at a rate of up to 1%. Authorized in Illinois in 2007, it has since then been adopted by over 60 counties. The tax is often viewed as a way to support schools without raising property taxes.
A 2025 WalletHub study found that Illinois has the highest overall taxes in the U.S., with rates more than 50% higher than the national average. The study estimates that a median household in Illinois pays an effective tax rate of 16.58%, or about $13,099 per year.
| Month | Amount Collected | % Change from Previous Month |
|---|---|---|
| August | $575,818 | -6.6% |
| July | $616,264 | 6.5% |
| June | $578,847 | 4.5% |
| May | $554,157 | -4.3% |
| April | $578,827 | 19.2% |
| March | $485,434 | 3.2% |
| February | $470,200 | -15.7% |
| January | $557,506 | 12% |
| December 2024 | $497,765 | -8.6% |
| November 2024 | $544,387 | 8.3% |
| October 2024 | $502,835 | 0.4% |
| September 2024 | $500,750 | 2.9% |
| August 2024 | $486,847 | – |
