Byron Nuke Plant is One of the Highest Taxed Properties in U.S.

The 20 top taxpaying properties in America are all in New York. Number 21 is right here in Northern Illinois.

And, as you've no doubt guessed from the headline and photos, #21 is the Excelon-Byron Nuclear Generating Station.

CommercialCafe.com recently released their report on the "Top 100 US Property Taxes in 2017," and I must admit a certain degree of surprise in seeing where the Byron station sits on the list.

Their 2017 property tax bill came out to $36,576,768.

That's more than DisneyLand in Anaheim, California paid. Their total was $35,642,819.

Other high property taxed Illinois properties include (Name, ranking, total property tax bill for 2017):

• Willis Tower  (#28/ $31,742,883)
• ExxonMobil Joliet Refinery in Channahon (#32/ $29,688,473)
• 300 North LaSalle (#53/ $21,470,230)
• Aon Center (#63/ $19,809,768)
• Woodfield Mall (#64/ $19,603,461)
• 300 East Randolph (#65/ $19,576,626)
• One Prudential Plaza (#77/ $17,910,028)
• Water Tower Place (#79/ $17,677,503)
• The Franklin-227 West Monroe Street (#99/ $15,956,578)

And, as long as we're talking big money, here are the top five highest property-taxed properties in America:

1. Northport Power Station, Fort Salonga, New York ($82,093,239)
2. General Motors Building, New York ($75,568,292)
3. Stuyvesant Town, New York ($66,504,858)
4. Metlife Building, New York ($52,089,329)
5. 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York ($47,993,513)

From MyStateline.com:

According to the Rochelle News-Leader, Exelon spokesman Paul Dempsey is quoted as saying “Exelon has been litigating the property tax assessments for Byron Station since the 2012 assessment, and anticipates receiving a ruling from the Property Tax Appeal Board sometime this year.”

Dempsey also said the Chicago-based corporation is committed to paying its fair share of property taxes, saying Exelon is “of the opinion that the more than $36 million in property taxes it pays each year for Byron Station is far in excess of its fair share based on a reasonable assessment of value.”

The Byron plant pays taxes to 11 separate taxing bodies, including the Byron School District which receives $18.6 million. The Oregon School District, by contrast, has an annual budget of $15 million, serving 53 fewer students.