LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
Residents and concerned citizens packed the Edgar County Courthouse on Wednesday, Nov. 4, but not for any ordinary court proceedings.
The Edgar County Board held a Truth in Taxation public hearing at 8:30 a.m. to hear comments on the proposed property tax increase. Members of the public came into the room, filling up the benches and spilling over into the jury box and hallway.
The hearing lasted for over two and a half hours before the board held its regular meeting, where it ultimately approved the resolution to approve the budget and levy to be laid open for public viewing.
Local governments are legally required to approve a tentative budget and tax levy and file them for public viewing.
The resolution passed by a four-to-three vote.
The levy and budget are not officially approved, and it could see modifications before it goes before the board on Nov. 25 for final approval.
The county’s current proposed levy calls for a 9.49 percent increase, raising last year's levy from $5,312,952.27 to $5,817,000.
According to the Illinois General Assembly, a public hearing must be held if a taxing district proposes an aggregate levy exceeding 105 percent of the previous year's final aggregate levy (five percent increase). The law does not cap a levy or require approval from the public, allowing the board to adopt a higher levy after a public hearing. The legal requirement is only that residents be told and given a chance to comment first.
The meeting quickly got heated after the Pledge of Allegiance when an attendee approached the board and called for the meeting to be moved to the evening at another venue, saying he filed a petition.
‘Ladies and gentlemen of the board, I am here to say that this meeting needs to stop now,” Paris resident David Bailey said.
“This meeting will not be held in this room because you think you're protected in this room. It's going to be out of this room, and it's going to be recorded.”
Board chair Jeff Voigt responded to Bailey, saying, “I want you to know that this has been done in accordance with state law.”
Bailey continued to stand and speak to the board before Voigt asked a deputy to escort him out of the room. He returned to the meeting about 10 minutes later.
After a tense start, board member Lisa Ellis and fellow board member Scott Myers began a presentation explaining the tax increase, using a tax bill for a resident who lives in the City of Paris as a reference point.
The example showed Paris Union School District 95 accounting for about 52 percent of the total, the city requesting about 23 percent and the county at about 11 percent, with the remaining 14 percent or so going to other taxing bodies.
“If you're in the City of Paris, this is a percentage for you. And as you can see, the two largest portions are your school district and the city,” Ellis said.
Voigt addressed the larger increases to the county, including tort funds.
“After the levy (last year’s levy) was created, we got a bill for $100,000 more than what we thought we were going to get. And we had to absorb that through this year. And this year we got hit with an earlier figure, and we're getting hit with another $100,000,” Voigt said.
He then addressed Social Security, saying it typically increases by three percent, equaling roughly $30,000 to $40,000.
Voigt also shared that the county had two retirements, costing roughly $62,000.
“And we've got a couple of big retirements coming next year, starting December one. So that's a big one,” Voigt said.
Other increases include health insurance for county employees, which rose by $60,000 this past year, as well as capital repairs.
One notable repair is the courthouse elevator that Voigt said is “failing.”
Edgar County Clerk and Recorder August H. Griffin later confirmed the elevator needs to be
addressed, but it is inspected monthly by an outside maintenance company.
Voigt then spoke about unfunded mandates set by the state, including the road system funds. “For example, the road system. We have three funds. If we don't levy close to the max on those funds, the state will not give us any money. Bridges won't get repaired. Roads won't be maintained,” he said.
One attendee asked the board if they were surprised by the information it was sharing and if the nine percent increase is normal.
“There’s no surprise here,” Ellis responded.
Board member Andy Patrick spoke about the rising costs, saying the county was not immune.
“Everything's gone up. We're just a business. We're getting 11 percent of the county tax that comes in, and we're trying to run the county. That's why stuff’s gone up last year,” Patrick said.
“We're running a business, and everything's gone up.”
One attendee spoke up, saying, “We understand that, but our wages haven’t gone up.”
Another thanked the board for their work and said he and others are well aware of increasing costs.
“I don't think anybody sitting in here doesn't understand costs are going up around the world,” Bob Sinclair said.
He then explained how the increase in taxes affects him and how they differ from other parts of the country.
“The average house price in America today is $227,000. The average tax on that house is $1,993. My house was assessed at 240, so just slightly above that. My taxes are $5,800 a year,” he said.
“That’s a problem, folks. And you're telling us that your costs are out of control, and you're asking for nine percent again this year.”
He gave the example of moving his house to Terre Haute, Ind., saying he would pay a third in property taxes compared to living in Paris.
Sinclair added that there must be a “breaking point” because people will stop fixing their homes and they are going to become dilapidated – resulting in the value of the property decreasing.
“Look at the retired people that have now followed their kids and left town. All of that money is left out, and at some point, we've got to figure out ways to take the controllable things and get those under control,” he said.
Scott Moore addressed the board, echoing the points made by Sinclair.
“My property taxes went from 3,000 the previous year to $6,000 this year. I retired from law enforcement and corrections for 27 years,” Moore said.
“I'm now back at work… I can't take any more increases than what I already have. I never would have thought my property taxes would have doubled.”
Katie Schopmeyer asked the board what caused the increases on insurance.
“Liability – coverage of buildings,” Voigt said.
“Is it due to us being sued so many times? I actually do commercial insurance, and I insure municipalities in the State of Illinois,” Schopmeyer said.
“There’s a correlation between the two,” Voigt responded.
Ellis explained the county used to have coverage from a trust, but the insurance company dropped the county after various issues with the Edgar County Jail.
“There were some pretty big issues with the jail, both physically and administratively, and we were dropped. So, we now only had one option since I've been on,” she said.
You know what happens when it's a no-bid process? You pay a price. Well, we've been paying a high price, and every time there is a lawsuit, and at least 95 percent of those lawsuits are directly or indirectly involving the jail or administrative staff, then liability insurance goes up.”
Ellis did share that the original trust company looked at the new jail facility and said it would be submitting a bid.
“We're waiting on it. So right now, what our budget is reflecting is the bill that we have from the current insurance now. Do I, even if they do come back with a quote for us, do we think it's going to be small? No, but all we can do at the moment is hope that it is considerably less than what we're paying now,” Ellis added.
The board then addressed the county’s employees and their compensation.
The budget includes a three percent increase for staff payroll, which is less than a cost-of-living increase.
Ellis said that amount does allow various department heads to “reward excellent behavior.”
“We are just merely trying to help them not get too far behind,” she added.
She added that two departments lost a staff member in the past month because they found a higher-paying opportunity elsewhere.
“And any time you lose a staff member, and you have to go through the hiring and training; that's a big cost,” Ellis said.
Voigt encouraged the public to attend its meetings and study sessions regularly, specifically study sessions to hear more in detail on agenda items the board will vote on at its regular meetings.
“We do most of our business at what we call a study session. Our first study session of the month is at five o'clock, and nobody showed up. Nobody showed up this week, last week, the week before,” he said.
Attendees also said there was a lack of publication about the meeting, saying the board didn’t publicize it well enough.
The board responded, saying it was posted in the Prairie Press, on the county’s website and in the clerk’s office.
Another issue constituents brought up was the timing of the meetings, saying having hearings/meetings in the morning during the week makes it hard for working people to attend.
The board also stated that they have moved meeting and study session times around to evening hours previously, but no one from the public attended.
Kirk Allen addressed the board, saying he hopes the board decides to vote no on the proposed increase.
“Personally, I pray you all vote no on this increase because there are services that we do provide that we don't have to provide. The cuts are coming. Stand up and make (them),” Allen said.
He encouraged the current board to table the vote and allow the next board to make the decision when they are sworn in on Dec. 7.
Greg Townsley, a local pastor, spoke about the struggles he sees and also encouraged the board to table the vote.
“You mention the three percent; we only get a three percent (and) that’s not even the cost-of-living; I haven’t had a cost-of-living increase in my salary in years,” he said.
He added that he spoke to his church congregation the night before about coming to the meeting, but most of them could not be present because they had to work.
“Most of them are having to work their second job, their side hustle,” Townsley said.
“We need to figure out how to cut and get this out of here. This is not the way to go.”
Brocton Mayor Chad Dudley addressed the board, saying he totally opposes the increase.
“My villagers can’t afford this,” he said.
“To be honest with you, this county, this state, I’m sick of it. I’m sick of every taxpayer around here having that debt on their back. I think that there are cuts that need to be made. You guys need to make those cuts. Be bold about this. Table it (and) let the new board deal with it, and we’ll be back to fight the next time.”
At roughly the two-hour-and-36-minute mark, Voigt adjourned the hearing.
“We appreciate everybody participating. Please come to our meetings,” he told the room.
The board took a roughly 15-minute recess before going into regular session to vote on the resolution to approve the budget and levy to lay open for public viewing.
“Before we discuss further, I think it would be helpful if you intend to vote against this resolution. I'd like to hear specific or general cuts that you would make to make this work,” Voigt said.
Board member Daniel Bruner said he would be voting no, but he had no comment.
“I told you I don’t agree. After last year, with the tax increase we had, we don’t need another one,” he said.
Myers also said he would vote no on the increase.
“I would like to review budgets with department heads to potentially reduce staffing and reduce expenses. I would also like to review the enactment of joint dispatch to potentially reduce our overall personnel, not just countywide, but county and city, by a potential of two full dispatchers,” he said,
“And I'm not saying that's just county. I'm saying that's city included if we do joint dispatch, and the cost savings that would be enacted by doing that.”
Board member Karl Farnham, Jr. said he would vote no as well.
“(In the) same way that Scott (Myers) said. I don't necessarily (know) on the joint dispatch whether we can reduce that much, but it’s something to take a look at,” he said.
Farnham later said he believes cuts to the budget can be made.
“Obviously, we're not going to get down to zero, but I know we can make some cuts to lower it; it’s a question of how much,” he said.
Voigt added that “things that can happen” to the budget in the next three weeks if the resolution passes.
Ellis wanted to clarify that approving the resolution does not mean voting to approve the 9.49 percent increase, but only to lay open for public viewing and additional research.
Voigt confirmed the vote does not pass the increase, but “it could lead to that.”
Patrick encouraged the public to voice opinions on what they believed should be cut from the budget.
“I don't know what you want to cut. Let us know what you want to do,” he said.
Ellis suggested adding two budget meetings for additional research, discussion and public input.
Patrick moved to approve the resolution and was seconded by board member Russ Lawton.
The motion carried on a four-to-three vote, with Farnham, Bruner and Myers all voting no on the resolution.
While the resolution passed, there will be three meetings before the proposed increase goes before the board at its regular meeting on Nov. 25.
The board announced two more meetings on Nov. 17 and 19, with exact times and location to be announced on the county’s website - edgarcountyillinois.com.
The board will also hold its scheduled study session on Nov. 23 at 9:30 a.m. at the Edgar County Highway Department.
All three meetings are open to the public, and concerned citizens and community members are encouraged to attend.
To watch the full public hearing and regular meetings in their entirety, visit edgarcountyillinois.com and click the YouTube tab on the right side of the web page.