Monterey Committee Recommends Three-Cent Tax Increase

The Monterey Finance Committee recommended a three-cent property tax increase Tuesday night.

Alderman Nathan Walker said the small increase would prevent larger increases from occurring down the road.

“The 3-cent increase, compared to what we are looking at regionally, is just one of those incremental steps,” Walker said. “One of my big concerns is three or four years from now. Knowing that taxes will be incrementally raised over time, to spring a [50-90 cent] tax on some folks, especially those on fixed income, that could be devastating.”

Three cents would generate about $12,000 in new revenue for the city. Vice Mayor Starlett Wessels said she won’t support the increase during next week’s board of mayor and alderman meeting.

“Obviously, its to increase $12,000 in the budget,” Wessels said. “Well, we’ve got all these things that we’re adding new to the budget that exceed $12,000. You could take any piece of it that accumulates to $12,000 and say that’s what it’s funding.”

The three-member committee did vote to eliminate $42,000 from the proposed budget, including $12,000 for a part-time worker for Cultural Administrator Julie Bohannon. The committee also slashed $25,000 that was to be used as matching funds for a fire truck grant.

The committee’s proposal still includes a three-percent cost of living adjustment for all employees.

The board of mayor and aldermen will consider the new budget Aug. 5. The board voted against the spending plan earlier this year.