By Adam Studzinski
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington residents won’t be getting a higher property tax bill from the city in the next year.
The City Council will look Monday night at the estimated tax levy for 2017. Finance director Patti-Lynn Silva explained they plan to drop their tax rate slightly, but because the overall property value in the area is expected to go up Bloomington will see an increase in property tax revenue.
“The average home owner of a $165,000 home, which is our median home value, would see like a $1 decrease in their taxes,” Silva said.
Silva added the city is likely to see $545,000 in additional revenue.
“The city is proposing to use that for one of the council’s highest priorities, which is response times for ambulance calls,” said Silva. “We are proposing to add six firemen.”
Firemen would be stationed at the fire department headquarters in downtown. Silva said that station handles more than 30 percent of the city’s emergency calls.
The council will vote on the tax rate in December.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at adam.studzinski@cumulus.com.
