Large property tax increase, urban agriculture project, and labor contract to be voted on at next Decatur City Council meeting

The Decatur City Council will vote on a large property tax increase between 5-7% at its next meeting on December 2 at 5:30 PM.  In addition, the city council will be voting to give The Good Samaritan Inn land for a large-scale urban agriculture project and approving a new collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME. 

A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE IS UNNECESSARY

The Decatur City Council will likely raise property taxes it collects by 5-7% in 2025.  The majority of city council members are advocating that the amount of tax collected increase at a rate higher than inflation (~3%) or the city’s projected increase in equalized assessed value (5%).  A large property tax increase is poor public policy, is unnecessary, and the city council should focus more on reducing unnecessary spending.  Thus, a property tax increase of $0 is more appropriate, but if taxes should be raised it should be no more than the city’s growth in equalized assessed value from annexations, property rehabilitation, and new developments (3%). 

Property taxes are already too high.  Macon County, IL had the 10th highest effective property tax rate in the U.S. in 2023 at 2.13% according to a property tax analysis by ATTOM (the national average is 0.87%).  In the second quarter of 2023, Macon County, IL had the highest percentage of home loans underwater in the country (17.6%) and the likelihood of a Macon County property with a foreclosure filing was 12.9 times greater than the national average according to ATTOM.  Furthermore, over 40% of Macon County residents do not make enough income to make ends meet let alone pay higher taxes. A 5-7% property tax increase seemingly ignores the challenges Decatur residents face on a day-to-day basis. 

The city does not need to raise property taxes 5-7% next year.  Recently, the city council unnecessarily approved spending $1.1 million for a pipeline to transport water when a pre-existing pipe already exists.  The city has yet to take legal action to recoup hundreds of thousands of dollars residents spent demolishing the former YWCA building.  We have foregone substantial revenue to adjacent municipalities by prohibiting a cannabis dispensary in Decatur and since December 2021, we have used taxes collected from residents to increase the city’s cash reserves from a 39-day reserve of $7.6 million to a 95-day reserve of $22.8 million, a cash reserve well above one industry standard.  The city’s substantial cash reserve was accumulated using taxpayer money at the same time residents were experiencing significant inflationary pressures.  Even though the city’s financial footing has improved, we unnecessarily put more and more financial pressure on our residents, some of whom are fearful they will lose their homes because they cannot pay the bills. 

URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECT WILL HELP PEOPLE IN NEED

The Decatur City Council will be voting on whether to transfer ownership of 5 acres of land in the city’s urban core to The Good Samaritan Inn for a large-scale urban agriculture project that will expand their Mercy Gardens program.  The city has already cleared the one-and-a-half block area and when the land is ready for food production, it will increase resident access to fresh foods in what is currently a food desert.  Given the increased need reported by social service agencies, transferring ownership of the land to The Good Samaritan Inn is very timely and will likely benefit Decatur residents in need for years to come. 

AFSCME CONTRACT

The council will likely approve a new contract with AFSCME Council 31 and Local 268.  The contract will run from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2028 and will include a 4% cost of living increase per year.  In addition, there will be a change in residency requirement to living within 50 miles of Decatur.  I thank the members of AFSCME for their tremendous service to our city.

PLEASE EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS AT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING

The Decatur City Council meets on Monday, December 2 at 5:30 PM in the council chambers located on the third floor of the Decatur Civic Center (1 Gary K. Anderson Place).  Free parking is available in the lot immediately south of the entrance.  Citizens are encouraged to attend meetings and express their views.  Citizens are allotted 3 minutes per person near the beginning of each city council meeting.  In addition, citizens can provide comments regarding one regular agenda item per meeting for up to three minutes provided they notify the city in advance (and prior to the start of the meeting).  You can request to speak on a particular agenda item at a council meeting by filling out an on-line form at: https://www.decaturil.gov/FormCenter/Mayor-Council-11/Advance-Request-to-Speak-at-Council-Meet-60.

AGENDAS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE

An agenda and information about each agenda item for each city council meeting can be found at: https://www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council-meetings/.

CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

If you would like to discuss city issues with a council member, phone numbers and email addresses for each council member can be found at the following link: https://www.decaturil.gov/300/Mayor-Council.