The City Council will vote tonight on a tax package that could reduce the city’s property tax rate and consider easing restrictions for businesspeople seeking council membership.

After a series of discussions last month, city officials came up with a plan that will increase this year’s tax levy to $1,274,810, a 2.75-percent increase over fiscal year 1994.

The actual tax rate will decrease, however, if the plan is approved because the equalized assessed value of property taxed by the city increased by $6,851,107, a 5.71-percent increase from 1994. The growth in the EAV makes it possible to collect the $1,274,810 levy while reducing the tax rate. Mayor Neil Dillard said the increased EAV is the result of growth that placed more valuable property on the city’s tax rolls. He said the city did not reassess the values of homes for 1995 taxes.

Advertisement

The increased EAV made it possible for the city to reduce its tax rate to 0.98276 per $100 of EAV from 1994’s 1.03915 per $100 of EAV.

This does not mean homeowners should expect a decrease on their overall property tax bill if the council passes the tax plan because Carbondale residents pay property taxes to several different local governments including the Carbondale Township, Jackson County and elementary and secondary school districts.

Dillard said the city’s share of property taxes is used to maintain pensions for city positions that are mandated by state law, provide street lighting and funding for Carbondale’s library. Monies given to the library account for nearly 43 percent of the property taxes to be collected this summer under the plan.

The council will also consider amending the city’s code of ethics to make it possible for people involved with businesses that could contract with the city to serve on the council.

City Manager Jeff Doherty said the present code is more strict than Illinois statutes and excludes people from the council who have even tiny associations with businesses that could potentially be awarded small contracts with the city.

The current code doesn’t allow any leeway whatsoever, he said.

Doherty said under the new code that people who have an interest in a firm which may do business with the city may serve on the council. He said, however that the person would be subject to several restrictions including disclosing their association with the firm and not voting on the contract.

Advertisement*

He said amending the code is not a new idea.

This issue has kind of been around for awhile, Doherty said.