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Property Taxes Go Up Under Budget Scenarios
No matter how you slice it, residents are likely going to have to pay more of their share of the City of Galesburg's combined 90-million dollar budget.

Aldermen were a part of a budget work session Thursday night, where aldermen heard of a balanced 23-million dollar operating budget, but City Manager Todd Thompson admits it was balanced on unsustainable strategies -- stagnant revenues and growing expenditures.

The balanced budget assumed that property tax levies would remain flat, still resulting in an increase in most property tax bills due to declining values.

But Seventh Ward Alderman Jeremy Karlin says he doesn't like that at all.

"This budget reflects the goal of kicking the can down the road one more year," Karlin said. "I think we've run out of road. We do need to address the revenue side."

So aldermen are instead being encouraged to support what could be considered a serious property tax levy increase, that would result in a 20-dollar increase on property tax bills next year.

The proposed budget otherwise relies on police, fire, and public works positions not being filled, no employees getting any raises next year, but still tries to get close at funding pension liabilities.

It's not clear when aldermen will act on the budget. The fiscal year matches to the calendar year in Galesburg.
10 28 11 by Newsroom
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