No truth in taxation hearing necessary for Pinckneyville; council approves $622,700 levy

The Pinckneyville City Council passed an ordinance approving the corporate tax levy for the fiscal year which began May 1, 2014 and will end April 30, 2015. The total levy is $622,700.

At the previous meeting, the council had approved an estimated levy of $623,500. Commissioner Leonard Heisner said at that meeting that he had just received information on the required contribution to the Police Pension Fund and no truth in taxation hearing would be necessary. The pension contribution is determined by state actuaries and is not always available before the levy has to be approved.

Two years ago, the city had to use $75,000 from the general fund to make the required payments to the pension fund. Last year, the city held a truth in taxation hearing to make sure that the levy would cover the required contribution. A truth in taxation hearing is necessary any time a levy is more than 105 percent of the previous year's levy.

In other business, the council:

• granted permission for all Class A liquor license holders to remain open an extra hour after New Year's Eve, closing at 2 a.m. on Jan. 1.

• approved an agreement with Emling and Hoffman for auditing services for 2015 - 2017 for the TIF and regular city accounts. The cost of the TIF audit is $3,350 per year and increases $50 each year. The cost of the regular audit is $14,800 per year and increases $200 each year. The TIF district will expire in 2015 and disbursements may end in 2016. If the final TIF audit is not necessary, the city will not have to pay the $3,450.

• heard from Fire Chief Jim Gielow that Santa will visit Pinckneyville on Saturday, Dec. 13, leaving from the fire station at 9 a.m. to drive through town.