Monmouth-Roseville District 238 approved a 14 percent tax levy at last night’s school board meeting.
Under the enacted hike an owner of a home valued at $45,000 dollars would see an increase of $316 dollars per year.
The levy increase was high enough that a Truth in Taxation public hearing as is mandated by state law.
Four Monmouth residents stood to voice their disapproval of the increase, including Dennis Wilhardt.
“What I think you are doing is speculating,” said Wilhardt addressing board members. “You’re speculating against the State of Illinois putting a property tax freeze. I ask you–what does that mean? What do you think that means? You don’t have a clue what that means.”
Superintendent Ed Fletcher admits that the drastic increase is because of the state being in talks of capping property taxes which would leave rates frozen for two years.
He tells WGIL that this had to be done to prepare the district for the freezing scenario.
“Although they talk about a two-year tax cap, I don’t think any Superintendent envisions tax caps going away if they are enacted.”
Fletcher also laid out at the meeting possible strategies on how to proceed if Galesburg pulls out of the Knox Warren Special Education District Co-Op.
He discussed remaining in the co-op with the remaining five districts as an option. No decision was made.
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