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Property Tax Freeze Would Devestate Communities Like Clinton

 width=Monday night, the Clinton City Council was presented information on the property tax freeze that is a focal point of Governor Bruce Rauner's reform agenda.

According to Clinton City Treasurer, Clint Lichtenwalter (pictured right), the two year property tax freeze the Governor is touting would likely not be temporary and the freeze would force communities like Clinton to increase their taxes before the legislation would go into effect.

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Lichtenwalter explains in the event there is economic growth in the community, the property tax freeze would not allow communities to capture the funds from that growth. He essentially calls a tax decrease.

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Clinton Commissioner of Finance, Tom Edmunds explains the state sets the maximum levies for communities like Clinton. He points to communities such as Decatur and Bloomington and Normal do not fall under the rule which allows them to levy more.

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Lichtenwalter indicates the property tax freeze would also effect the police and fire pension funds. He indicates Clinton has been able to keep up with the annual payments to those funds, but if a property tax freeze goes into effect, it's likely they will have to find money from other places to fund their pensions.

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