Belvidere aldermen reject property tax increase, OK $5.7M levy
Belvidere City Council approved a $5.7 million levy, the same amount as last year, on Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. [SUSAN VELA/RRSTAR.COM STAFF]
By Susan Vela
Staff writer
Posted Dec 21, 2018 at 12:51 PMUpdated Dec 21, 2018 at 5:12 PM
BELVIDERE — The City Council held a special meeting Friday to reconsider a $5.9 million property tax levy and decided the City of Murals could get by next year with $5.7 million instead.
The meeting was needed after aldermen rejected a proposal Monday for a $5.9 million levy, which included about $160,000 more for the city and about $23,000 more for the Ida Public Library. The council needed to adopt a levy Friday to meet a mandatory deadline.
The council voted 6-3 to amend the levy proposal to $5.7 million, the same amount as last year. Daniel Snow, Ronald Brooks and Wendy Frank favored the higher amount. Alderman George Crawford did not attend the meeting.
“I’ve talked to people,” Alderman Clayton Stevens said. “They’re mad as hell. They’re mad because we’re going to raise the gas tax, the sales tax. They’re just tired of being taxed.”
Aldermen approved in August a 0.5-percentage point sales tax increase that should generate about $1.2 million annually. New data indicates the gas tax approved in July should bring in about $500,000.
“I’m happy that the council was able to reach a consensus and at least approve a levy,” said Becky Tobin, the city’s budget and finance officer. “Even if it doesn’t include the increase that we wanted, it’s better than nothing. Like the mayor said, we’ll make due. It’s not catastrophic. What would have been catastrophic is not passing any kind of levy.”
Mayor Mike Chamberlain also was thankful council approved a levy.
“At this point, I am just relieved we were able to salvage the majority of the levy,” Chamberlain said. “Do I agree with them? No. The amendment, I think, is self serving. But it is what it is.”
Ida Public Library Treasurer Joe Fortmann said it’s too soon to say how the library will make do without the levy increase.
“If a lot of money goes away from the library, this community will not have a library,” Fortmann said. “I do not know how to say that any more strenuously than I just have.”
Susan Vela: 815-987-1392; svela@rrstar.com; @susanvela
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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