LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
PARIS – Efforts to reduce an incoming tax levy hike in Edgar County have proven successful, but local residents will likely still see an increase in their tax bill in 2025.
During a Monday, Nov. 4 public hearing and a Wednesday, Nov. 6 board meeting, members of the Edgar County Board discussed the updated levy. Previously, the amount of taxes the county was going to levy against local taxpayers was 9.07 percent, or $430,236.33, higher than the 2024 levy.
Several expenses played into the increase, including higher costs for ambulance service and an anticipated $100,000 insurance premium increase, which would mark the second such increase in two years, if it comes to fruition.
As previously reported by The Prairie Press, the increase is due to insurance payouts for storm damage caused by the June 2023 derecho and “incomplete training of correctional officers on jail policies and procedures” at the Edgar County Jail, which could lead to “safety issues for both staff and inmates as well as legal actions against the county,” Board Chairman Jeff Voigt explained in a statement on Oct. 25.
“It’s an issue, and it’s going to be an ongoing issue,” Voigt explained during a Monday study session. “We’ve got good people, it’s just they’re younger, and I don’t mean to categorize younger people, but … we need to continue to improve the culture in the jail.”
The initial projection of a 9.07 percent increase pushed Voigt to ask department heads to look for any costs that could be cut to alleviate pressure on Edgar County taxpayers. After further review, the increase has been whittled down to 6.85 percent, or $325,236.33, and Voigt hopes there will be more to come.
“It’s still a working document we haven’t finished yet … And if we can accommodate any more cuts, we will do that,” he said on Monday.
Fellow board member Karl Farnham, one of the most outspoken advocates for cost-cutting in previous meetings, is still not entirely satisfied with the levy as it stands. He promised to keep working with the Sheriff’s Department to address the issues leading to premium increases and discouraging more competitive insurance providers from offering policies to the county.
“There’s several things in the expenses we had (that) I’m not very happy about, but a lot of it’s out of our control,” he said, later adding, “We’ll continue to work with the sheriff to try to make improvements on that end of it … Hopefully, on down the road with our insurance, (we can) get those costs dropped for next year.”
The board approved the updated levy to be released for public review and comment. The levy will not be finalized until a meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 27.
The board also discussed several other business items this week.
SETTLEMENT PAYMENT
A payment for an out-of-court settlement between the Edgar County Board and Edgar County Special Service Area Ambulance Company (ECSSAAC) was approved. All members voted in favor of the motion except for Farnham, who voted in opposition.
The settlement payment is being issued to ECSSAAC, the county’s former ambulance service provider after they filed a lawsuit against the county.
Per Voigt, the payment is “for $125,000 to settle all claims and release all liability, and … further action by either party.”
While the settlement is certainly a notable sum, the board will be able to make the payment from a surplus within the Ambulance Service Area One account.
“We’ve carried a surplus for probably 20 years in there. So we’re going to not deplete totally, but get it taken care of through that,” Voigt explained.
SLOWING DOWN SPRINGFIELD ROAD
Drivers on Springfield Road (950th Road) will need to heed a new speed limit between Paris city limits and State Route 133. A new ordinance approved by the board on Wednesday reduced the speed limit in the area to 45 miles per hour based on data collected during a speed study.
FLU SHOTS AVAILABLE
Kim Ross, Edgar County Public Health Department (ECPHD) administrator, informed board members and others in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting that flu shots are now available for purchase. Per Ross, the out-of-pocket cost is $55.
The COVID-19 vaccine is not available at ECPHD for adults due to high costs, but COVID immunizations are available for Edgar County youth enrolled in the Vaccines for Children Program – an income-based program from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Shingles shots are also unavailable at ECPHD due to cost concerns.
For anyone interested in getting their flu shot, the ECPHD is accepting appointments and walk-ins.