---
title: What’s in Evanston’s proposed 2027 budget
url: https://evanstonvoterguide.com/updates/proposed-2027-city-budget/
updated: 2026-10-16
source_policy: every fact carries a numbered source; [n] markers refer to the Sources list
---

[Home](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/) / [Updates](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/updates/) / What’s in the proposed 2027 budget Update · Published Fri Oct 16, 2026

# What’s in the proposed 2027 budget

More updates

1. [Acting mayor pick now expected Oct. 26, not Oct. 19](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/updates/acting-mayor-pick-oct-26/)
2. [District 65 proposes closing Dewey and Lincolnwood](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/updates/d65-proposes-closing-dewey-lincolnwood/)
3. [Evanston is hiring a new ethics counsel](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/updates/city-hiring-ethics-counsel/)

[All updates →](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/updates/)

The news

The City of Evanston’s proposed 2027 budget would raise the city’s property tax levy by 10% and the residential water rate by 25%, along with several smaller taxes. [1]

## The main changes

- **Property tax:** the levy would rise by $5,138,439, or 10%. With the library’s planned 3.15% increase, the city estimates a median home worth $481,200 would pay about $180 more a year. [1]
- **Water:** a 25% rate increase would add about $135 to the average household’s annual bill, the first of several increases planned to replace water mains and lead service lines. [1]
- **Rideshare tax:** from 20 cents to 50 cents a ride. [1]
- **Streaming tax:** from 5% to 10%. [1]
- **Natural gas use tax:** from 2.5 cents to 5 cents per therm. That is the gas that heats homes; the proposal lists no change to the tax on gasoline. [1]
- **Real estate transfer tax:** $1 more per $1,000 of value on sales over $1.5 million. [1]

A gap of about $22 million would be covered by drawing down reserves. [1]

## When to weigh in

- Ward meetings, 6 p.m.: 1st Ward on Thursday, October 22; 6th, 8th and 9th Wards on Tuesday, October 27; 2nd, 4th and 7th Wards on Thursday, November 5. Locations had not been announced. [2]
- Staff will bring an update to the City Council on October 26. [2]
- The council’s initial approval is set for November 9, with final adoption targeted for November 23. [2]

Related

- [The mayor’s race](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/mayor/)
- [What does Evanston’s mayor do?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/what-does-the-mayor-do/)

## Sources

1. Evanston RoundTable — With reserves dwindling, proposed city budget would target deficits by hiking property taxes 10%, water rate 25% (Oct. 8, 2026) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/10/08/with-reserves-dwindling-proposed-city-budget-would-target-deficits-by-hiking-property-taxes-10-water-rate-25/
2. Evanston RoundTable — Staff cuts front and center in City Council's first pass at 2027 budget (Oct. 13, 2026) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/10/13/evanston-city-council-2027-proposed-budget/