Edwardsburg Village residents may soon experience a slight tax increase.
This year, the Edwardsburg Village Council was allowed to host a Truth in Taxation hearing, which, if carried out, would allow the the council to approve the village’s tax levies by $1,429. This extra tax revenue would go into the council’s general fund. At Monday’s Village Council meeting, the council approved this measure.
The $1,429 translates to a 1.784 percent increase in property taxes for Village of Edwardsburg residents or $1.16 per person per year, based on 2014 population statistics.
Though the Truth in Taxation hearing was ultimately approved, not all members of the council were in favor.
“I would like to see us maybe not do it, because water prices have gone up. I’ve had people come up to me and say their water bill has gone up $10,” Buildings and Grounds Representative James Meltinos said. “People are already seeing a little more money go out.”
However, for the most part, the council agreed the money would allow them to do things in the community that they typically do not have money for.
“It’s hard to come by money,” Village President Jacque Tighe said. “We don’t have money to do things in the parks.”
The council has not hosted a Truth in Taxation hearing when they have been able to in previous years, due to a lengthy public notifications process, which would have left the council with only around $60. The council felt this cost was not worth the trouble, Tighe said. However, this year, the public notifications process has been shortened to only six days, which will make the process easier and leave the council with around $1,370.
The council began putting notices in newspapers this week, and will host a public Truth in Taxation hearing at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, at the Edwardsburg Village Meeting Hall.
In other business:
The council voted on several other resolutions, including the approval of $11,998 in repairs to a .09 mile stretch of Section Street to be carried out after the school year ends. The council also approved the removal of trees in Lindbergh Park not to exceed a cost of $3,600.
Cass County Planning Commission Secretary Roseann Marchetti gave a brief presentation on Smart911, a system which is now up and running in Cass County. Smart911 is a voluntary database that allows people to enter personal information such as medical conditions or vehicle information. This information will then be made available to dispatchers when sent out on emergency calls.
Residents of Cass County are encouraged to create a Smart911 profile at smart911.com, Marchetti said.