The Peoria Heights Village Board has adopted a fiscal year 2022 tax levy that actually asks less of local property taxpayers.
At its meeting on Dec. 6, the Board levied a total of $1,050,429 between its general fund, its police pension fund and its library system. That compares to the $1,059,171 approved for fiscal year 2021, which was in itself a decrease from the previous year.
While Village government represents a relatively small percentage of a local resident’s overall real estate tax bill – sales taxes are by far the Village’s largest source of revenue – it’s still a relatively rare occurrence for local governments to lower their levies.
“If approved, you’ll be lowering property taxes, and I think we’re all in favor of that,” Mayor Michael Phelan said before the unanimous vote.
Peoria Heights Public Library Director Shawn Edwards also briefed trustees on his levy request, which like the Village’s declined from the previous year, owing mostly to an increase in state reimbursements. Meanwhile, the library is in the early stages of planning for a potential renovation and expansion project over the next few years, he said.
In other discussion, the Heights’ two-day Kris Kringle Market was hailed as a “tremendous success” and “magical” by trustees. The Kringle Market is now an annual event with significant expansion plans in the works.