[Peace] Official to urge tax referendum

[Brian Dolinar]

Township monies for the poorest of the poor in Champaign
will be discussed tonight, Champaign City Council chambers, downtown
Champaign at 7pm.

BD

[image: The News-Gazette.com]   Official to urge tax referendum By Mike
Monson <http://www.news-gazette.com/news/reporter/mmonson/> Tuesday March 4,
2008

CHAMPAIGN – City of Champaign Township Supervisor Linda Abernathy is
expected to recommend tonight that a tax referendum should be placed on the
Nov. 4 ballot to increase the amount of money the township is able to
provide to the extremely poor.

Abernathy, in an e-mail to supporters, said she will recommend that the town
board place on the ballot a question asking voters to increase the
township's tax rate by 2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The
district's current overall tax rate is 3.5 cents.

The 2-cent rate increase would generate an additional $297,000 annually for
the township, and allow the district to increase the amount of cash
assistance the township provides to the extremely poor. The proposed rate
increase would increase property taxes on a $150,000 home by $9 annually.

City of Champaign Township collected $453,000 in property taxes last year.
Township voters rejected a 5-cent tax rate increase, by a 2-to-1 margin, in
November 2006.

The town board meets at 7 tonight at the Champaign City Building, 102 N.
Neil St. The Champaign City Council serves as the town board in City of
Champaign Township.

Faced with rapidly dwindling cash reserves, Abernathy ended general
assistance on Feb. 1, 2007, and replaced it with the state's transitional
assistance program. She wound up cutting monthly assistance for the poor
from $212 to $150, and slashed the number of people receiving assistance
from 130 to about 50 by no longer allowing able-bodied adults to receive
assistance. Now only people with disabilities who are seeking federal
Supplimental Security income are eligible.

Abernathy could not be reached for comment.
-- 
Brian Dolinar, Ph.D.
303 W. Locust St.
Urbana, IL 61801
briandolinar at gmail.com
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