A Special Service Area (SSA) is a property-taxing mechanism used to fund additional services or improvements in a defined geographic area. SSA No. 1 was established in 1979 to help fund special municipal services in connection with providing free parking downtown.

SSA No. 1 was continued in 1988 with the same purpose and expanded in 1997 to provide landscaping and public seating services. Currently, SSA No. 1 expired in April 2023 (taxes collected in 2024) and is under review for continuation.

Downtown Geneva needs a special service area because it requires special municipal services not found in other parts of Geneva. SSA No. 1 is not self-sustaining; annually the City transfers additional funds to cover downtown services that benefit property owners, tenants and customers.

Governmental, religious and non-profit classified properties are excluded from paying real estate taxes and the additional special service area assessment.

The new SSA No. 1 area has similar but not identical boundaries and services. Municipal services include maintenance of landscaping, public parking lots, sidewalk snow removal, and trash removal services. In addition, the downtown streetscape (seating, trash receptacles, wayfinding signage, street lighting) is more than 20 years old, deteriorating and in need of attention.

The ordinance allows a maximum annual levy not to exceed 0.7% of the assessed value, as equalized, of the property in the proposed SSA No. 1. In addition, the ordinance allows the ability to issue bonds (in an amount not to exceed $5 million) to fund improvements.

Update

The City hosted two open houses in November 2023 for the downtown community. The Geneva City Council conducted a public hearing Dec.4, 2023 at City Hall and received support for the establishment and continuation of SSA No. 1 by those in attendance. 

Immediately following the public hearing, the City Council passed Ordinance 2023-27 to establish the continuation of SSA No 1. The ordinance will be in effect Feb. 2, 2024 unless a petition signed by 51% of electors in the area and 51% of property owners is filed with the City Clerk prior to this date.