Belleville to set date for public to weigh in on wheel tax

Mar 1, 2010 — Belleville News-Democrat

Mar. 1, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- BELLEVILLE -- City leaders are expected Monday night to set a date for people to weigh in on next year's budget, including a new $20 tax on vehicles registered in the city.

The agenda for the 7 p.m. meeting lists the council as set to vote on a public hearing time of 7 p.m. March 29, likely in the City Council chambers at City Hall, 101 S. Illinois St.

The city last week approved a proposed budget that would include the vehicle tax; the final vote likely will come right after the public hearing. City leaders have said they need the tax to make up for $775,000 the city won't be getting from the state this year in reimbursements. Leaders said that if it weren't for the new tax, they'd have to lay off city employees and cut public services, including police protection.

Also Monday, city leaders are expected to vote on a new tax increment financing district for the Belle Valley III industrial park. The park is on about 190 acres sandwiched between Green Mount Lane and Illinois 15. The existing two phases are part of another tax increment financing district, and they're nearly full. About 30 businesses have located there, and only one lot has yet to be purchased.

The land for the third phase used to be a farm, and the city annexed it in 2007.

This financing district is made possible, in part, by the unemployment rate in the city. As the park is expected to create new jobs, there's a provision in state law that allows for the special financing to be used there.

The city's unemployment rate at the time of an eligibility study in October was 10.9 percent, 1.4 percent above the national average, and it need only be 6 percent to qualify for the tax increment financing.

The Belle Valley III district would be the city's 21st.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0023-42468072