Galesburg City Council approved their 2019 budget last night and along with it a property tax increase.
A $100,000 homeowner can expect to pay around $30 more next year.
Angela Bastian and Russell Fleming didn’t like the increase but they were overruled by four other council members. “I think we currently have an overtaxed base here in the city of Galesburg and we continually go back to our citizens and our businesses and ask them for more,” Bastian said to fellow aldermen.
Bastian says that Galesburg property owners are already “overtaxed” and asked the administration to budget with the same levy as last year.
Jeremy Karlin motioned to include funds for a park and recreation capital project, “we as a city council have discussed over the last year that we have $300,000 set aside for an unspecified Parks project, which may or may not be a miniature golf course.”
Karlin has long advocated for the city to run a public miniature golf course, which some council members have said they either oppose or on the fence about.
Council did agree, 6-0, to include the $300,000 that was budgeted for last year but can roll over.
City Manager Todd Thompson says the source of the funding for this project is the Capital Utility Fund and this amendment shouldn’t affect the budget.
The City of Galesburg’s portion of your tax bill is around 16 percent.
