There are many levels of government represented on your tax bill. Each provides a multitude of different services to the property owner and each funds a portion of their activities by levying taxes. Each taxing body has a geographic area to which services are provided. The location of your property will determine which taxing bodies serve you. Your property could be in grade school District 56, while your neighbor across the street could be in grade school 50.
Tax levies are the requests for money made by each taxing body.
Each taxing body develops its own request. All the requests are made in the form of a tax levy ordinance which the officials of the taxing body must approve. The tax levy ordinances are forwarded to the County Clerk's office for tax extension prior to the close of each calander year. Each taxing body goes through a process of determining how much money to request in their levy. Each taxing body's process is different.