EAST PEORIA, Ill. – East Peoria’s city council members approved a contract Tuesday night to build a new police station, taking credit for holding the line on property taxes.
The council voted unanimously, with two members absent, on a contract that will pay River City Construction a maximum of $21.6 million to build East Peoria’s new police headquarters at W. Camp and Clock Tower Drive.
Tuesday marked the council’s final action before the city breaks ground Friday on a two-story, 38,000 square foot station. The new building will be much larger than the current 6,000 square foot facility in East Peoria’s public safety building.
Earlier this month, Police Chief David Catton told 25 News that the station will not be funded by property tax dollars, but rather from interest on a loan to the contractor of the new Blutowne apartment complex.
Meanwhile, council voted unanimously on a levy in which the city will collect $5.9 million dollars in property taxes next year, which is unchanged from this year’s levy.
With an increase expected in taxable property values, city leaders predict the tax rate will fall, according to East Peoria City Commissioner Mark Hill.
A large portion of East Peoria’s property tax collections are spent on pensions for police, firefighters and other city staff. Other revenue sources including sales taxes and gaming pay for other city services, Hill says.
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