Special Service Areas

A Special Service Area (SSA) is a financing tool used to help support and implement various services and physical improvements. Special Service Areas are a great way to implement infrastructure improvements in your neighborhood. Improvements could include lighting, sidewalks, and street improvements.

Special Service Area Information and Steps to Establish an SSA

Special Service Areas are contiguous areas within a municipality or county in which special governmental services are provided in addition to those services provided generally throughout the municipality or county, the cost of the special services is to be paid from revenues collected from taxes levied or imposed upon a property within that area.

Peoria utilizes an 80/20 split to cover the cost of the Special Service Area. 80% of the cost resides on the homeowners in the Special Service Area and the additional 20% is the responsibility of the City. The homeowner's 80% responsibility is imposed through property tax levies and is based on assessed property values and the number of repayment years. 

SSA Table

Steps To Establishing An SSA


  1. Neighborhood petition to request improvement to Public Works. 
    1. Special Service Area Support Petition
  2. Determine project and cost of improvements.

  3. Determine assessed values of each property in the project area.

  4. Determine the participation rate for repayment based on assessed property values.

  5. Apply participation rate to 80% of the total project cost of improvements.

  6. Establish the number of taxable years for repayment for property owners.

  7. The City notifies property owners of individual costs.

  8. Property owners express written support in favor of the project.

    * Support vote must reach 50% + 1.

  9. Schedule Public Hearing before City Council (60 days notice).
    *Disapproval vote must reach 50% +1.

  10. City Council votes on proposed SSA. 

  11. The project is added to the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) budget.

  12. Design and construction of the project.