Is a conflict of interest the reason for a 7% property tax increase?
The Decatur City Council recently consented to increasing property taxes by 7% in 2025. In my view, this increase is poor public policy. The council had the opportunity to cut unnecessary spending earlier this year and to promote new businesses in Decatur and decided not to. In addition, the increase may not even have taken place had a city council member recused themselves due to a potential conflict of interest. At the November 4th council meeting, four council members consented to the 7% property tax increase while three consented to a smaller property tax increase. Had the council member with the potential conflict recused themselves from the discussion, the 2025 property tax increase Decatur residents are currently facing would likely have been lower potentially saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money.
As background, one of the Decatur City Council members could have a conflict of interest when they discuss and vote on the budget, property taxes, and other financial areas as their fiancée is a leader in the city’s finance department. Among other roles, the staff member advances the city’s position on higher property taxes and has responsibility for compiling the yearly budget. One of the most important roles of a council member is to vote on the yearly budget including how to raise revenue such as property taxes to pay for expenditures. Furthermore, the staff member reports directly to the city manager and the council member is one of seven supervisors of the city manager. Thus, it is possible that when the city council member is advocating for higher property taxes they are not advocating for the financial interest of the residents of Decatur. Rather, they could be arguing indirectly for the financial interest of the employee whose salary increases are determined by the city manager (e.g., a city manager could base salary increases on the extent to which their executives are in lockstep with the manager’s views and a reduction in property taxes may result in a budget for which there is a lower pool for salary increases among executives).
The city does not need to raise property taxes 7% next year. Recently, the city council unnecessarily approved spending $1.1 million for a pipeline to transport water when a pre-existing pipe already exists. The council approved paying 20% more to have a Decatur company remove abandoned docks than a central Illinois company that was the lowest bidder, a major departure from norms. We have foregone substantial revenue to adjacent municipalities by prohibiting a cannabis dispensary in Decatur. Unequivocally, we have the financial ability to lower property tax rates in 2025 and it is unclear how raising property taxes is an effective way to reverse the city’s population decline (10% since 2010) and loss of workforce (20% since 2010).
My partner in life is the President and CEO of Heritage Behavioral Health Center and since she has been in that role I have recused myself from discussing and voting on agenda items involving Heritage. I have been a faculty member at Millikin University for all the years I have served on the council, and during that time I have recused myself from discussing and voting on agenda items involving Millikin. In both cases, there have not been financial advantages to me or my better half to voting in a certain way, but common sense and institutional integrity dictate that I should recuse myself during these circumstances. Ultimately, each council member needs to decide for themselves whether a conflict or perceived conflict of interest exists and what to do about it. The consequences of a council member making the wrong decision could cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and give residents reason to distrust their local government.
PLEASE EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS AT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The Decatur City Council will be voting on the 2025 budget which includes a 7% property tax increase at its next meeting on Monday, November 18 at 5:30 PM in the council chambers located on the third floor of the Decatur Civic Center (1 Gary K. Anderson Place). Free parking is available in the lot immediately south of the entrance. Citizens are encouraged to attend meetings and express their views. Citizens are allotted 3 minutes per person near the beginning of each city council meeting. In addition, citizens can provide comments regarding one regular agenda item per meeting for up to three minutes provided they notify the city in advance (and prior to the start of the meeting). You can request to speak on a particular agenda item at a council meeting by filling out an on-line form at: https://www.decaturil.gov/FormCenter/Mayor-Council-11/Advance-Request-to-Speak-at-Council-Meet-60.
AGENDAS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE
An agenda and information about each agenda item for each city council meeting can be found at: https://www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council-meetings/.
CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
If you would like to discuss city issues with a council member, phone numbers and email addresses for each council member can be found at the following link: https://www.decaturil.gov/300/Mayor-Council.