City of Marion, Illinois

What City of Marion, Illinois does

The City of Marion, Illinois is a municipal government serving approximately 17,000-17,595 residents within Williamson County in Southern Illinois. Founded in 1839 and incorporated as a city in 1874, Marion operates under a commission form of government led by an elected mayor (currently Mike Absher, in office since April 2019) and a four-member City Council. The city delivers traditional municipal services — water and sewer utilities, police, fire, animal control, code enforcement, cemetery, senior services, and street maintenance — through city departments headquartered at 350 Tower Square Plaza and operating satellite offices across the city including the Marion Police Department (1001 W DeYoung Street), Animal Control (1318 S. Van Buren), and the Senior Citizens Center Club 60 (507 West Main Street).

The city's digital services are built on a stack of third-party SaaS platforms rather than proprietary technology. The City of Marion mobile app (available on iOS and Android) wraps a citizen-facing PublicStuff service-request widget; iWorQ powers online permitting and code violations at marionil.portal.iworq.net; a dedicated water billing platform at iwebms.net/marionil handles ACH, credit, and phone payments; Hyper-Reach delivers mass emergency notifications; and Horner-Shifrin Geocortex Essentials provides interactive GIS maps for zoning, TIF districts, and city planning. Council meetings are recorded and archived on YouTube.

Marion's revenue model is tax-and-fee based rather than commercial. The 2019 decision to raise sales tax by 0.75% eliminated the city property tax levy entirely, shifting the revenue base toward sales tax — a more elastic and growth-correlated stream. Water and sewer service charges ($36.05/$36.46 minimum inside/outside city limits for up to 2,000 gallons) provide recurring utility revenue. One-time fees from business licenses, short-term rental registrations ($250/year plus $50 inspection), electrical contractor licensing ($20,000 surety bond), and various permits supplement the base. TIF district revenues and STAR Bond incremental sales tax revenues fund redevelopment, with $112,440,000 in Sales Tax Revenue Bonds issued in 2025 to finance a multi-year destination development project approved by the Illinois Department of Revenue.

Name

City of Marion, Illinois

Legal name

City of Marion

Website

https://cityofmarionil.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1839

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The City of Marion, Illinois is a municipal government serving approximately 17,000 residents in Williamson County, delivering traditional utilities, public safety, permitting, and senior services through city departments and a stack of third-party SaaS digital portals, funded primarily by sales tax, utility fees, and $112M in STAR Bond revenue bonds financing a destination redevelopment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN), Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Public utility services
• Building permit services
• Economic development programs
• Public safety services

Headquarters

HQ city

Marion

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Sales Tax Revenue: Primary revenue source derived from strong sales tax base. In 2019, the City Council raised sales tax by 0.75% to eliminate the city's property tax levy, resulting in significant growth as the fastest growing community in Southern Illinois.
2. Water and Sewer Service Fees: Water and sewer billing with minimum charges of $36.05 inside city limits / $36.46 outside city limits for up to 2,000 gallons per billing cycle. Additional charges apply for usage beyond minimum.
3. Licenses and Permits: Various licenses including electrical contractor licenses (with $20,000 surety bond requirement), liquor licenses, raffle licenses, tattoo licenses, taxicab licenses, transient merchant licenses, video gaming licenses, massage establishment permits, coin operating machine permits, door-to-door solicitor permits, and oversize/overweight moving permits. Permit fees for building, occupancy, signage, pools, and fences.
4. STAR Bonds Incremental Revenue: Sales Tax Increment Financing (TIF) from new sales within the STAR Bond District. No additional taxes raised; only incremental sales tax from new development pledged to service bonds.
5. Hotel Occupancy Tax: Tax on hotel operators as regulated by Ordinance 3954 and 3955, administered through Localgov platform
6. TIF District Revenues: Property tax increment revenues from TIF districts used for improvements within designated areas to encourage economic development and job creation

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The City of Marion, Illinois is a municipal government entity that provides essential public services to approximately 17,000 residents and businesses within its jurisdiction. Core services include water and sewer utilities, building permits and code enforcement, business and contractor licensing, police and fire protection, animal control, cemetery services, senior recreation programs, and economic development initiatives including Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts and STAR Bonds. The city operates digital self-service platforms for permit applications, water bill payment, service requests, and emergency notifications.

Product overview

The City of Marion, Illinois is a municipal government whose primary digital presence is a standard government website (cityofmarionil.gov) serving approximately 17,595 residents. The city's digital offerings are centered on its website as a hub, supplemented by a dedicated mobile app available on iOS and Android, an online permit/license portal, a water utility billing and payment service, a citizen issue-reporting system, and a GIS mapping tool. The city also operates the STAR Bond District economic development program, which is financing a major $112M destination redevelopment project. Key digital services include the Marion TWENTY39 civic leadership program page, council meeting video archives via YouTube, and Hyper-Reach emergency notification signup. The city does not operate a commercial SaaS product, AI/ML platform, or developer-facing API. Rather, it provides traditional municipal government services through digital channels for constituent engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• City of Marion, IL Mobile App A mobile application for iOS and Android that consolidates all city website functionality into a single app, allowing residents to access city services, report problems, view alerts, and pay water bills from their mobile devices.
• Water and Sewer Utility Services Online and mobile bill payment service for city water and sewer utility accounts, accessible via the city website, a dedicated iOS and Android app, phone system, and in-person or mail options. Minimum bill of $36.05 inside city limits and $36.46 outside city limits for up to 2,000 gallons per billing cycle.
• License and Permit Services Online portal and paper forms for obtaining city-issued licenses (electrical, liquor, raffle, tattoo, taxicab, transient merchant/food truck) and permits (coin operating, gaming, massage establishment, oversize/overweight, door-to-door solicitor, food truck, square reservation, occupancy tax).
• Economic Development Services Suite of municipal planning and business development programs including industrial incentives, enterprise zone benefits, TIF districts, downtown development, and capital improvement planning, offered in partnership with regional economic development organizations including Greater Egypt Regional Planning, Marion Chamber of Commerce, and REDCO.
• STAR Bond District Program A state-authorized economic development program patterned after Kansas STAR Bonds legislation, enabling the city to fund large-scale destination development through incremental sales tax revenues within a defined geographic district. Currently financing a $112M redevelopment project with Millennium Destination Development as Master Developer.
• TIF Exterior Improvement Grants Tax Increment Financing grant program offering residential and commercial property owners matching funds for exterior improvements within designated TIF districts. Applications accepted annually on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Hyper-Reach Emergency Notification Service Mass emergency notification system providing localized weather and community alerts to residents via cell phone or email, powered by Hyper-Reach and integrated as a public safety resource on the city's website.
• Citizen Service Request System (PublicStuff) Citizen service request system powered by PublicStuff, allowing residents to report civic issues including water leaks, drainage problems, graffiti, potholes, suspicious activity, and downed traffic signals directly to city departments.
• City of Marion GIS Map Interactive geographic information system map of the city, including zoning layers, TIF district boundaries, and general city geography, built on the Horner-Shifrin Geocortex Essentials platform.
• Marion TWENTY39 Civic Leadership Program Year-long civic leadership development program named for the 200th anniversary of the city's founding, offering monthly workshops, mentorship, networking, and real-world project experience for community participants. Meets monthly on second Thursdays from May through April.
• Council Agendas and Minutes A public records service providing access to city council meeting agendas and archived video recordings uploaded to the city's YouTube channel.
• Municipal Electric Aggregation Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Fastest growing community in Southern Illinois following property tax elimination and sales tax increase
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Millennium Destination DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Master Developer appointed per the Innovation Development & Economy Act to lead destination development within the STAR Bond District. Must maintain or control 50% of land within the district. Revised Project Plan submitted in 2021 and approved by Illinois Department of Revenue in August 2023.
• Marion Unit #2 School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership between Marion Police Department and Marion Unit 2 School District to ensure student, staff, and faculty safety by placing a sworn officer in every school in the district. This partnership brings families peace of mind and adds to quality education.
• Illinois Department of RevenuesupportingOthersState agency that approved the First STAR Bond Project Plan for Marion in August 2023 after feasibility study by Johnson Consulting determined the plan feasible.
• Greater Egypt Regional Planning and DevelopmentsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning organization that helps extend and enhance city services, strengthening the entire Southern Illinois region through collaborative development efforts.
• Marion Chamber of CommercesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary business organization in Marion; city maintains strong partnership to support economic development efforts and business community growth.
• Regional Economic Development Corporation (REDCO)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization supporting Marion's efforts to extend and enhance services, strengthening the Southern Illinois region's economic position.
• Johnson ConsultingsupportingOthersFinancial consulting firm specializing in financial impact and feasibility of developments; conducted feasibility study for STAR Bond project plan.
• Williamson CountysupportingOthersCounty government with which Marion collaborates on various regional services and initiatives; Marion is the county seat of Williamson County.
• State of IllinoissupportingOthersState government providing regulatory oversight, economic development programs, and highway access (Interstate 57, Illinois Route 13, Interstate 24) supporting Marion's growth.
• Illinois Department of TransportationsupportingOthersState agency that approved $4 million for construction of Crab Orchard Greenway, providing access to Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Marion High School Sports Complex, and Historical Village at John A. Logan College.
• Williamson County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #197supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Cops and Kids program held every December, sponsoring 100+ underprivileged children from Williamson County to shop with law enforcement officers at local Walmarts for Christmas gifts. Marion Police Department is proud partner.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• City of West Frankfort, Illinois: Adjacent Franklin County municipality in Southern Illinois with similar population profile. Comparable as a peer municipality operating traditional municipal services in the same regional economic ecosystem.
• City of Jackson, Missouri: Southeast Missouri municipality of comparable size operating as a regional retail and service hub. Comparable for similar municipal service delivery model and economic development approach in the broader region.
• City of Benton, Illinois: Franklin County seat neighbor of Marion in Southern Illinois. Comparable as a small-municipality peer providing water, sewer, and public safety services in the same regional market.
• City of Du Quoin, Illinois: Perry County, Illinois municipality with comparable population and similar mid-sized municipal service portfolio. Comparable as a peer Southern Illinois city with overlapping service categories and economic development profiles.

Direct peers

• City of Herrin, Illinois: Williamson County neighboring municipality serving similar population base and overlapping labor market. Comparable as a Southern Illinois peer city providing traditional municipal services from the same county.
• City of Carbondale, Illinois: Nearby Southern Illinois municipal government of comparable size serving as regional hub for education and healthcare. Comparable as a similarly-sized Illinois municipality providing comparable municipal services, with overlapping service territory and competing for regional economic development.
• City of Mount Vernon, Illinois: Southern Illinois municipal government serving as a regional center with similar population base. Comparable as a peer municipality operating water utilities, police/fire services, economic development programs, and TIF districts in the same regional market.
• City of Harrisburg, Illinois: Southern Illinois municipality of comparable size serving as a regional service center. Comparable as a peer Southern Illinois city with similar municipal services, sales tax base, and economic development challenges.
• City of Paducah, Kentucky: Regional hub city across the Ohio River serving similar role as a retail, healthcare, and logistics center for the surrounding region. Comparable as a similar-sized municipality using TIF and economic development incentives to drive downtown revitalization.
• City of Cape Girardeau, Missouri: Southeast Missouri regional center of comparable population and economic profile. Comparable as a peer municipality operating water/sewer utilities, police services, and economic development programs in a similar mid-sized regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUKL9LxylG4TP8YgVSaSwjQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/marionpolicedept
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-of-marion-il-gov

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Marion, Illinois