County board members narrowly voted to hike the county’s property tax levy by nearly 12 percent to make up for a $500,000 shortfall.

City officials suggest Moline will face a budget deficit without a property tax hike – which would only worsen the property tax plight of area homeowners.

While Quad Cities geography connects East Moline and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf, Illinois’ abundance of school districts means their administrative environments are worlds apart. By consolidating duplicative administrative bodies, East Moline could generate taxpayer savings.

Homeowners’ 2017 property tax bills (payable in 2018) outpace the state and national average, when measured as a share of home value.

Single-family homeowners in Rock Island County pay an average property tax bill above $2,800, according to a new report.

The Illinois side of the Quad Cities is already seeing population loss as residents pack up and leave high tax burdens behind.

House Bill 5816 would put all Rock Island County property taxpayers on the hook for costs at the Quad City International Airport.