The City of Galesburg has released its 2025 Annual Report — a department-by-department look at a year that brought major investment, public safety milestones, and significant improvements across the community.
Here are some of the numbers that defined 2025 in Galesburg.
Economic development
The city used 11 economic development incentives in 2025 to help drive more than $86 million in private investment and the creation of 225 new full-time jobs. Total commercial capital investment citywide topped $149 million across more than 20 new developments or expansions.
Western Smokehouse Partners opened its expanded Monmouth Blvd. facility, completing the full revitalization of the former Maytag plant for the first time since its 2004 closure — and creating more than 150 manufacturing jobs.
The city also landed a $25 million RAISE Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to install rail infrastructure at the Galesburg Business Park, a key piece of the city’s long-term development plans for the site.
Property taxes and finances
The city’s 2025 property tax rate came in at $2.38705 per $100 of equalized assessed value — the lowest since 2008. The total operating budget was $78,759,480.
The Finance Department received the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 29th year in a row.
Public safety
The Galesburg Police Department handled 53,980 calls for service in 2025 with a force of 55 officers and 20 dispatchers. The Galesburg Fire Department logged 5,404 total responses and handled 46 structure fires, with an average response time of 3 minutes and 38 seconds.
Six Galesburg firefighters were honored at the 32nd Annual Illinois State Fire Marshal Firefighting Medal of Honor Awards Ceremony in May. The department also ranked second in Illinois in the MDA Fill the Boot campaign, raising $34,139.
Parks and recreation
Hawthorne Municipal Pool drew 12,748 patrons after Phase II renovations wrapped up — more than 2,500 additional visitors compared to the prior year, and the end of a nearly $4 million, three-year investment in the facility.
Construction of Cooke Park got underway in August, backed by a $500,000 OSLAD grant, a $250,000 DCEO grant, and neighborhood fundraising. A splash pad is scheduled for spring 2026.
Galesburg marked its 25th consecutive year as a Tree City USA. The Forestry Division removed 128 trees, trimmed 504, and planted 238 during the year.
Housing and infrastructure
The city put $2.5 million in housing grants to work supporting repairs and rehabilitation for income-eligible homeowners, and wrapped up a $562,000 grant that funded the demolition of 35 blighted properties.
Public Works completed a $2.4 million reconstruction of E. Simmons St. downtown, including a full overhaul of Public Parking Lot H with new lighting, a pedestrian canopy, and an EV charging station. The Water Division finished replacing all remaining galvanized service lines across the city, eliminating the risk of historical lead accumulation.
Read the full report
The complete City of Galesburg 2025 Annual Report is available here: City of Galesburg 2025 Annual Report (PDF)
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