Galena Voters to Decide on a 2-Mill Levy: What Homeowners and Buyers Should Know

Village square with new sidewalk construction on an autumn day.

Galena voters will decide on an additional 2-mill levy on the November ballot that the county auditor estimates would collect $192,942 a year, about $70 per $100,000 of market value. Here is what is on the ballot and what is under way in the village.

A tax levy is on the November ballot for the Village of Galena in Delaware County. If you own a home there, or are considering buying in the area, here is what the ballot language says, what the village is working on, and how to think about the cost. This post reports the facts and does not recommend how to vote.

What Is on the Ballot in Galena?

According to the Delaware Gazette, published October 15, 2026, the Village of Galena has a proposed additional tax levy on the November ballot, and a majority affirmative vote is needed for passage. Election Day is November 3, 2026, according to the Delaware County Board of Elections.

The ballot language describes an additional tax for the benefit of the Village of Galena for current expenses. The county auditor estimates it would collect $192,942 annually, at a rate not exceeding 2 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $70 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's market value. It would run for 4 years, commencing in 2026, with the first payment due in calendar year 2027.

What Does "Additional" Mean?

An additional levy is a new tax on top of existing property taxes, not a renewal of one already in place. A mill is one-tenth of a cent per dollar of taxable value. The ballot language translates the 2-mill rate into a plain figure of $70 per year for each $100,000 of the auditor's market value.

As a simple illustration, that works out to roughly $5.83 per month per $100,000 of market value, and about $140 per year for a home with a $200,000 auditor's value. That arithmetic is mine, not the article's, and your actual bill depends on your property's valuation and any other levies or exemptions that apply.

What Is Happening in Galena Right Now?

The article notes that much is happening in the village. According to the Village of Galena's Facebook post of September 28, residents can expect a lot of work in the Galena Square over about six weeks, including new sidewalks, added parking and better safety. Parallel parking on the north side of West Columbus Street will stay closed until the new parking, sidewalks and public infrastructure are completed.

The village website lists current community improvement projects for its parks, streets, sidewalks and accessibility, with funding sources noted. According to the Gazette's summary:

• Miller Park Pavilion (village-funded): Phase I was completed earlier in 2026. Phase II, including restrooms, electrical work, concrete and stonework, is underway with completion planned by Thanksgiving. Phase III, including painting, trim work, signage and landscaping, is planned for 2028.

• Miller Park Trail (funded by Preservation Parks of Delaware County): to be widened and resurfaced, with completion planned for November 2026.

• Miller Park Parking Lot (village-funded): paving, expansion and striping, with completion planned for the end of November.

• Holmes Street (village-funded): widening, resurfacing, restriping and repairs, with completion planned by Thanksgiving.

• Walnut Street (village-funded): resurfacing, a stormwater catch basin replacement, sidewalk upgrades, an ADA-accessible sidewalk and an expanded parking area, with completion planned for November.

• Columbus Street: heavy-duty pavement, a raised center-block crosswalk and new striping, scheduled from September 15 through November 15.

• Village Square sidewalk and crosswalk: new sidewalks and a crosswalk to improve ADA accessibility, with completion planned for November.

• Village Hall entrance (village-funded): a new ADA-accessible entrance, with completion planned for December.

• Village-wide asphalt repairs to damaged pavement areas.

The village notes that schedules are subject to weather, material availability and construction conditions.

Does the Article Say What the Levy Money Would Fund?

The ballot language describes the purpose only as current expenses. The article does not say which projects or services the levy would support, and it does not connect the levy to the construction projects listed. If you want specifics, the village's council materials, meetings and website are the best sources.

How Should Homeowners and Buyers Think About a Levy?

A levy is one piece of a larger property tax picture. Here is a practical way to approach it:

• Find your actual numbers. The Delaware County Auditor's office can show your property's valuation and current tax bill, and the ballot language gives the per-$100,000 figure to scale from.

• Look at the whole bill. School districts, townships, counties and other jurisdictions all contribute to what you pay.

• Ask about timing. If the levy passes, the first payment would be due in calendar year 2027.

• Compare communities fairly. When you are choosing between towns, ask for the full annual tax bill on comparable homes rather than comparing one rate.

• Visit and ask questions. Village meetings and local news are good ways to learn what residents think.

What If You Are Buying or Selling in Galena?

If you are buying, ask your agent to pull the most recent tax bill for any home you are considering, and ask the Auditor's office how any pending levy would apply. If you are selling, be ready to answer buyers' questions about the tax picture honestly and point them to the auditor's records. The election result will be public after November 3, so timing a purchase around it is a personal decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is on the Galena ballot in November? An additional tax levy for the Village of Galena for current expenses, at a rate not exceeding 2 mills, which the county auditor estimates would collect $192,942 annually, according to the Delaware Gazette.

How much would the levy cost a homeowner? The ballot language states $70 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's market value. Your bill depends on your property's valuation and other applicable levies or exemptions.

How long would the levy last? Four years, commencing in 2026, with the first payment due in calendar year 2027, according to the ballot language reported by the Gazette.

How many votes are needed to pass it? A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage, according to the Delaware Gazette.

What would the levy money be used for? The ballot language says current expenses. The article does not specify which projects or services the levy would support.

If you are weighing a home in Galena or elsewhere in Delaware County, I would be glad to pull the most recent tax bills on comparable homes and walk through the full cost of ownership with you. No pressure, just the numbers.

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