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Town Hall · Cortland

Cortland spent less per resident in 2022 than 77% of similar cities

Cortland’s town government spent $3 million on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2022, about $683 per resident. Water and other utilities ($449,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Illinois.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$3.0M
year to April 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$683
In 2022: $683, less than 77% of 166 similar cities
Long-term debt
$97,000
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
22
full-time · 4 part-time · March payroll $108,884
Typical tax bill
$6,624
2.84% of home value · IL 2.01%

What stands out about how Cortland is run

Read from the town’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $683 per resident, less than 77% of 166 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer22% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 with 6+ other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Cortland’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2022 budget

About $683 per resident a year, or $1.87 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 31%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 32%Property taxes 23%Fees & charges 12%Utility sales 11%Sales taxes 8%Interest, fines & other 7%From the federal government 6%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $159,000; interest on debt $10,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $3.6 million.
Compared with similar places

$683 per resident in 2022: less than 77% of them

Cortland’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($683 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 166 Illinois cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $884, and the middle half spent $702–$1,158. Cortland spent less than 77% of them.

Middle half of the group, $702–$1,158Median $884Cortland

Includes sewer and trash ($304,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
166

Illinois cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Cortland itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

Cortland reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $6,624 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.84% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Cortland$6,624
DeKalb$5,607
Illinois$5,298
$6,624
typical bill a year
2.84%
effective rate
$233,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Cortland’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Cortland’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Cortland →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Cortland

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

Check Cortland’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Cortland yet.
Who works for Cortland

One full-time town employee for every 200 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (4,393).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Police6 + 2 pt
Roads & transportation6
Administration & buildings4 + 2 pt
Sewer & trash3
Water & other utilities3
22
full-time
4
part-time
$108,884
payroll for March 2022
$1.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$58,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
6
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Cortland had 5.0 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 135 of the 166 Illinois cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.4: Cortland had fewer than 59% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

DeKalb Community Unit School District 428

Cortland’s K–12 school district, shared with Malta, DeKalb Township, DeKalb, Malta Township, Afton Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Cortland →
$21,601
per pupil · IL $21,567
6,719
students
$110.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $21,601 per pupil, $11,916 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 37%State 54%Federal 9%

Illinois districts overall: 52% local, 38% state, 10% federal.

Also serving Cortland

Sycamore Community Unit School District 427 · $18,910 per pupil

Kaneland Community Unit School District 302 · $21,339 per pupil

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

Cortland’s votes are counted by county

Illinois reports official results by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Cortland alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are DeKalb County’s results.

President · DeKalb County’s results47,785 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat49.5%23,648 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican47.5%22,716 votes

Others: 3.0% (1,421 votes).

Most votes in DeKalb County: Kamala D Harris

Illinois: Harris 54.4%, Trump 43.5%

The county’s page

100% of Cortland lies in DeKalb County. Every 2024 race in DeKalb County is on the county’s page.

DeKalb County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Cortland

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Cortland.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Illinois HouseState representatives
    Jeff Keicher
  3. 3
    Illinois SenateState senator
    Dave Syverson
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    J. B. Pritzker
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Lauren Underwood
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Illinois
    Richard J. DurbinTammy Duckworth

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Cortland compares with the towns next door

Cortland spent $683 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $1,264. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

DeKalb: $1,264 per resident (2022)DeKalbCortland
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
DeKalb$1,264$5,607
Cortland$683$6,624

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Cortland’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Cortland’s government

How much does Cortland spend per resident?

About $683 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $683 was less than 77% of 166 Illinois cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Cortland?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,624 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 2.84% of the typical home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.

Who runs Cortland’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Cortland yet.

How did Cortland vote in 2024?

Illinois counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Cortland alone. DeKalb County, where 100% of Cortland lies, voted Harris 49.5%, Trump 47.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Cortland?

22 full-time and 4 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $108,884 (about $1.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Cortland in the state legislature?

State Senate District 35 (Dave Syverson) and State House District 70 (Jeff Keicher). The House district also covers 34 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Cortland?

The next posted meeting is Planning Commission on Thursday, November 5, at 6:30 pm, from the town’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Cortland’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →