Marseilles council plans to raise tax levy 6.55% to help fund police pensions

In an effort to proactively cut into police pension liability, the Marseilles City Council voted 4-0 early Wednesday evening to place on file its request of an increase of 6.55% on its 2020 tax levy, raising it from just less than $62 million in 2019 to $66 million.

The 2019 tax rate was 2.29%. The 2020 tax rate would be 2.42%. That would equate to a $39.69 increase on the property taxes of a $100,000 home, City Commissioner Bobby Kaminski confirmed after Wednesday’s meeting.

“I know it’s not the best time to do it,” Kaminski said. “I’ve been trying to kick this can down the road, but at some point I have to either do it now or in the next three years when the state comes and says, ‘We want you to be 80% funded, and you’re going to do it in the next couple years.’ Then [citizens] are going to see a huge jump in their taxes.

“I’d rather look like a little bit of a bad guy [now] than a really big bad guy [later]. I want to make sure it’s right.”

Kaminski said during the meeting the city’s police-pension obligations are currently 71% funded and that the levy request will be placed on file for public inspection.

In related business, the City Council voted 4-0 to allow the expiration of TIF District 3 on the city’s east side, which Kaminski called “a formality.” Mayor Jim Hollenbeck said the city has two remaining TIF districts. Thirteen months ago, Marseilles had five.

Commissioners Gary Lewey and Nathan Schaefer also thanked the city’s citizens and businesses for their generosity in supporting the Shop with a Cop program, which is having a record year in terms of donations for children’s toys and clothing.

“Speaking on behalf of the entire Marseilles Police Department, I say thank you,” Lewey said. “None of this would’ve been possible without the department and our gracious donors.”