The Caseyville Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously approved a 17.5 percent property tax increase.

Caseyville Village Board meeting Oct. 16, 2013 / Photo by Roger Starkey

According the hearing notice posted on the town’s official website, the increase will represent a $111,174.29 increase in tax revenue. That amounts to about $26.35 for each of the Villages’ 4,219 residents.

Prior to the meeting Wednesday, Brenda Williams, chairperson of the Finance Committee on the Board, said the increase is needed for the Police Pension Fund, Social Security and the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (the retirement account for Illinois municipal employees).

“They have been underfunded for a few years,” Williams said. “We have to raise taxes to bring the funds closer to what they should be. It is hard to pay when the money is not available.”

See previous story: http://metroindependent.com/2014/12/10/caseyville-to-hold-public-hearing-wednesday-on-17-5-percent-property-tax-increase/9900/