Property tax levy hearing set
By STU MERRY
A public hearing is Monday, Oct. 5, at 7:10 p.m., to consider increasing the 2016 City of Garrison property tax levy by 33.75 percent. The meeting is in conjunction with the next city council meeting.
At the hearing, residents will get the chance to comment on the proposed levy increase.
City officials are quick to point out this does not mean property taxes are going up.
The reason for the proposed increase is that the city, like the county, is suffering from a decline in oil and gas revenue that, in the past, has helped the bottom line.
"The revenue just isn’t there in the General Fund," said City Auditor Diane Affeldt.
City officials huddled Sept. 10 to discuss the 2016 proposed budget. The council proposes increasing the budget for street repairs. Wages have increased, and so has the police contract with the McLean County Sheriff’s Department. The proposed contract for 2016 is $147,549 compared to $131,423 – an increase of 13 percent.
