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Communication from the Town Officials Budget Committee with a Request to APPROVE the PROPOSED ESTIMATED TAX LEVY OF $1,344,725.00 (Estimated Tax Rate not to exceed 0.09180) (Pursuant to 35 ILCS 200/18-60) for the TOWN OF THE CITY OF PEORIA.
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The Town Budget Committee met and a majority of the Officials determined an estimated tax levy for the Town of the City of Peoria.
The Township Office remains committed to helping the needy in our community. We have two programs to assist our citizens. One program is our General Assistance program. We assist our clients through a voucher system to help them with their everyday essential needs. These citizens essentially have no income. The Supervisor has also implemented an Emergency Assistance Program, which has income guidelines set by the Supervisor and includes energy and water assistance. The Emergency Program helps those who have no insurance with eyeglasses and dental services. We continue to supply local bus passes to various agencies within out Township. We also offer a lawn mowing program to assist seniors and those with disabilities.
The Town levy had decreased since 2017 in an effort to draw down its reserves. For example, the rate for 2017 - 2018 of 0.1493 decreased year over year to 0.088 for 2020 - 2021. The current proposed estimated rate is 0.09180, slightly up from last year’s rate for a few reasons. Namely, the Township Budget Committee discussed the expected large increase of need in the community now that various COVID-related assistance programs offered by the Federal and State governments have ended (or ending soon), noting the Township Office will have a major role in filling that need. Further, while the prior reserves helped offset the cost of the new Town Office, this slight levy increase will also help the Town maintain a roughly six month reserve for any emergency needs, as by statute, the Town is the place of “last resort” on General Assistance.
The Truth in Taxation Act requires taxing authorities to estimate their annual tax levies twenty (20) days before the adoption of the aggregation levy. The Act requires a notice and public hearing for any increase over 5%. No Truth in Taxation Hearing is required.