Batavia plans to increase property, gasoline taxes

Batavia plans to collect an additional $600,000 in property taxes in 2018 to pay for an additional police officer, a second building inspector and increased stormwater drainage work.

It also plans to increase its gasoline tax by a penny to 4 cents per gallon.

Aldermen Tuesday gave preliminary approval to the increases in discussing the 2018 budget. They will vote on the budget, and the 2017 property tax levy, either Dec. 4 or 18.

The city's finance director, Peggy Colby, estimates the tax increase would mean the owner of a $300,000 house would pay about $41 more in taxes in 2018.

Batavia proposes a spending budget of $137.33 million. It includes:

• $28.3 million for the general fund.

• $81.5 million in the enterprise funds (electrical, water, sanitary sewer).

• $1.26 million in debt.

• $20.4 million in capital projects and items.

It supports hiring a police officer, so the department can resume having an undercover officer assigned to the North Central Narcotics Task Force. That position was eliminated in 2011.

"I think it is an extremely important function. Everybody is aware of the opioid crisis in this country. We are not immune to it here," Police Chief Dan Eul said. Without offering the officer, Batavia only gets help from the task force when investigating a drug-induced homicide, he said.

The community development department would get a second building inspector/code enforcement officer.

The budget includes a $45,000 increase for Tri-City Ambulance, as the ambulance services is considering adding a sixth ambulance.

Half the tax increase will go for stormwater drainage work.

Aldermen decided not to put money in the budget for remodeling pedestrian crossing signals on Route 31.

It includes $15.7 million for expansion and upgrades of the sewage treatment plant. The city started work this year. Overall, it is estimated the plant needs up to $65 million worth of work which could be done over a 15-year span.

Alderman Michael O'Brien proposed raising the gasoline tax to 5 cents a gallon, the maximum allowed under state law. A tie vote was broken by Mayor Jeff Schielke's "no" vote.

The fiscal year starts Jan. 1.