Wednesday, December 20, 2006 11:00 PM CST
Police, firefighter pension costs take biggest single share of city’s tax monies
By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com
MATTOON -- How does the 2006 city tax levy break down?
Obviously, the bulk of the tax money raised next year will go to the General Fund, totaling $1,087,798. That is 34 percent of the overall tax levy, which totals $3,161,111, based on figures released during Tuesday’s Mattoon City Council meeting.
The money raised through the levy will account for the following in the General Fund: $437,636 for general government; $525,162 for public safety, which is evenly split between police and fire protection; and $125,000 for culture and recreation through support for city parks and related activities. The General Fund levy total increased by $65,055 from last year.
But the city has other financial obligations, ranging from health and welfare to debt service, in the General Fund with revenue totaling $13,666,016 from other sources. The same is true with the city Enterprise Fund with $9,692,839 from other sources going to the water, sewer and cemetery funds. Grants, loans, state motor fuel tax receipts and sales tax revenues account for those other revenues. All together, the city has $29,608,706. These figures are listed as “abated” on the tax levy spread sheet.
But the greatest share of the city levy for next year will finance police and firefighter pension payouts, totaling $1,670,688, more than half of the city levy total.
Treasurer Preston Owen explained the city is obligated by state statute to provide pension payouts, and the city is committed to contracts with the firefighter and police unions as well. The firefighter pension accounts for $829,249 of the total, while the police pensions total $778,439. The pension fund totals increased by $63,143 from the previous levy.
Only one other city fund was included in the tax levy this year. The public library fund totals $402,625 on property taxes payable next year. This is an increase of $19,583 from last year.
Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.
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Fxiccxypxc wrote on May 10, 2007 11:31 AM: