- This a Work in Progress
Belvidere aldermen to revote on rejected $5.9 million tax levy
By Brittany Karlin |
Posted: Tue 5:25 PM, Dec 18, 2018 |
Updated: Tue 5:56 PM, Dec 18, 2018
BELVIDERE, Ill. (WIFR) - The aldermen and the Belvidere city mayor prepare for a showdown Friday to reevaluate the property tax levy vote.
"Basically a third or more of our annual budget going bye-bye creates a huge issue and a huge hole," said Belvidere Mayor Mike Chamberlain.
Belvidere aldermen said no to a proposed $5.9 million property tax levy. Mayor Chamberlain says it’s a major chunk and a key to balancing the city's $17 million budget.
"We will not be able to fund fire, police and public works at the normal levels. It would have created havoc in the city and the end of it would have been we have to eat up our reserve fund which would put us in a very uncomfortable position," said Mayor Chamberlain.
The proposal needed a majority yes vote to pass and four aldermen voted no, including Aldermen Clayton Stevens. He says taxpayers are already getting hit hard.
"Well, we already increased the gas tax by two cents a gallon. We have increased the sales tax by half a cent and those two rights there are going to bring in an extra $2 million projected next year,” said Stevens.
"It was alarming that the council members present last night were unaware of what they were doing and voting down $5.9 million that is desperately needed to balance our book," said Mayor Chamberlain
Stevens says he voted against the increase because he thought the other aldermen would vote yes. He also didn't discuss other possibilities with the mayor.
"I am going to vote against the 3.5 percent. I didn't discuss it with anybody. I was the first one to vote on it and I was quite surprised it went four and four,” said Stevens.
The special meeting to reconsider the levy is scheduled for 8:30 Friday morning. Mayor Chamberlain says aldermen can submit any changes they want and re-vote.
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