Income tax levy on Nov. 7 ballot

ST. HENRY - The village of St. Henry is running a levy that if approved by voters on the Nov. 7 general election ballot would increase the income tax rate by 0.5%.

The levy would bump up the income tax rate to 1.5% beginning Jan. 1, 2024, for the purpose of public safety, capital improvements, operating expenses, municipal services, acquisitions, maintenance, repair and replacement of municipal property and all other municipal operations and obligations, per ballot language.

"We have been postponing the buying or replacing of equipment and projects due to lack of funds," said village administrator Ruth Miller "With the way inflation has been over the last few years, the list of items keeps getting longer."

Miller added that in order to move forward and continue to maintain the villages' numerous assets plus the equipment to perform those tasks, the village needs the rate increase.

The village anticipates several major expenses including two dump trucks at $525,000, a street sweep hydro excavator for $425,000 and playground equipment costing $500,000, among other projects, according to village officials. They also want to hire additional employees and add full-time patrolmen.

Mayor Steve Koesters said the biggest need for the increase is to help St. Henry keep up with inflation.

"It's just incredible the cost of anything anymore," he said at a council meeting.

The current income tax of 1% was originally passed in 1975.

The tax would generate revenue from the earned income of village residents, businesses and anyone that works within the village, Miller said.

Retirement, social security, unemployment and military income are exempt from the tax.