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City Council Shoots Down Taxes
Tensions were high Monday night as the Galesburg City Council failed to pass both a gas use tax and the proposed property levy at Monday night's City Council meeting.

The failure of the gas tax was first amended from a 5% increase down to a 3% increase before failing by a vote of 3-5.

With the proposed Fiscal Year 2013 budget, the increase would have covered a nearly $600,000 budget shortfall.

Aldermen also failed to pass the 2012 property levy in the amount of 7.77 million dollars by a vote of 2-6.

Alderman Jeremy Karlin last week argued for raising taxes to attract new residents. Last night, he struck a slightly different tone.

"We get this all or nothing proposal at the last minute in November and December, were we can't have a realistic conversation about our expenditures, it's either well do it or you don't and then we're stuck and we're under this time crunch. The only way I can get someones attention is by voting no on these things."

The Council also voted down the 2013 budget at the recommendation of City Manager Todd Thompson and Mayor Sal Garza.

The Mayor wanted to come back with a fresh document for the council to go through at regularly scheduled special budget work sessions going forward.

According to the discussions, without a new look at implementing the 2012 taxes, the city is looking at cuts of 18%.
12 04 12 by Newsroom
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