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City Council Calls into Question Proposed Utility Tax
Most of the Galesburg City Council agrees that they don't like the idea of a new tax to help the city budget, but most also agree that something must be done.

Aldermen discussed the proposal to tax electric and gas service into homes and businesses as a way to generate revenue during a work session last night. But most didn't like the tax, and some didn't like the fact that it was being traded for property tax relief.

5th Ward Alderman Peter Schwartzman, however, says something needs to be done in order to keep the good city services Galesburg has.

"The City of Galesburg going to suffer and what we're going to become a marginal community and people are not going to want to move here. I plan to live here for a while and I certainly don't want to live in that kind of community. And frankly we don't have to look far outside of the confines of our city to see communities that are dying. Just take a little drive different directs around here and you'll see that and we don't want that."

Schwawrtzman says he's interested in hearing more about property tax increases, but he's also willing to hear more about issuing bonds to help the matter.

Some aldermen said new taxes and property tax increases should both be on the table.

It's not clear what the city will propose next.
09 25 12 by Newsroom
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