Politics
Evansville Raises Property Taxes to Fund Infrastructure and Public Works
Residents will pay the new levy on assessed home values starting in January while the city directs proceeds to road repairs, transit routes and maintenance crews.
How we reported this
The Evansville City Council approved the fiscal year 2027 budget ordinance on July 7, establishing a property tax rate of $1.92 per $100 of assessed value. The rate applies to residential and commercial properties within city limits and is projected to raise $48.3 million for capital and operating accounts. City finance staff prepared the document using the most recent property assessment rolls from Vanderburgh County.
Local revenue collections have fallen short of earlier forecasts because of slower growth in retail sales and building permits. The adopted budget therefore relies on the adjusted levy to cover scheduled payments for existing bonds and to avoid deeper cuts in other departments. The finance department released supporting worksheets that detail line-item allocations on July 6.
Effects on Jobs, Services and Daily Costs
Property owners in the 47710 and 47711 zip codes will see an average increase of $68 on a home assessed at $180,000. The same levy supports 14 new full-time positions in the public works department, including equipment operators and pavement technicians. Those hires are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026 once recruitment lists close.
Transit service on the Green Line and Red Line routes receives an additional $2.1 million for fuel and driver overtime. The allocation maintains current headways on routes serving the University of Evansville and the downtown medical district. Local advocates note that reduced service would have lengthened commute times for shift workers at area hospitals.
The budget document lists $9.7 million for street resurfacing contracts on Weinbach Avenue, Covert Avenue and sections of the Lloyd Expressway. Procurement rules require the city to issue requests for proposals by September 2026, with work expected to begin in spring 2027. Construction firms based in Evansville and nearby Gibson County are eligible to bid.
Implementation begins with the mailing of tax statements in December. The public works department will post quarterly progress reports on completed lane miles and filled positions on the city website. Any unspent capital funds at year-end must return to the general fund under the ordinance’s carry-over provisions.