Members of the Vermilion County Board have approved a new budget and appropriation ordinance for the fiscal year that begins December first. Jerry Hawker chairs the finance committee of the county board and notes the tax rate has improved…
{AUDIO: “The total rate, the tax rate decreased from 1.26 to 1.23. That is the second year in a row that the board has been able to decrease the tax rate. And the year before that we were able to hold the rate. So that’s a good thing.”}
Hawker says one thing that helped lower the tax rate was an increase in the overall assessed value of property in the county. The assessed value of property rose from one-billion-323-million-361-thousand dollars to one-billion-428-million-491-thousand dollars.
Some figures in the budget are expected to change since the county is still involved in negotiations with four collective bargaining units. Hawker noted raises are not included in the new budget. He also noted the county has been able to save a substantial amount on health insurance…
{AUDIO: “The health insurance savings (for) the county was $645-thousand-one-hundred-forty-one dollars. I think that’s very important to look at because I think, if you follow the news, all the other governmental entities have seen a great increase – not a decrease – in their health insurance.}
Hawker said passage of the new budget culminates a process that has lasted about eight months. He and County Board Chairman Steve Miller thanked department heads and officeholders for their cooperation in that process.
County Board members also approved decommissioning agreements and building permits for a commercial solar energy facility of about 5 megawatts and 28.3 acres near Hoopeston…plus a commercial solar energy facility of approximately 2.5 megawatts on 20 acres near Ridge Farm.
County Board members Joe Eckle, Phillip Jackson, Brad Watson, and Keven Bodine voted “no” on both projects. They were joined by board member Phearn Butler who also voted “no” on the building permit for the Ridge Farm area project. The Ridge Farm vote passed 15 to 5 with 6 board members absent. The Hoopeston area project was approved 17 to 4 with 6 absences.
News story here.
