SYCAMORE – The DeKalb County Board approved a $73 million budget Wednesday, which is expected to result in property tax bills for the average homeowner increasing more than $11.

Although bills will increase, the county will still bring in roughly $6 million less in 2013 than in 2012 because of a decline in federal grants and plummeting property values. The drop in property values by 9 percent – or about $18,000 off the average $200,000 home – led to the increase in property tax rates.

Overall, the county’s assessed value is expected to drop from $2.03 billion to $1.85 billion, with new construction accounting for $10 million of the value.