Evanston City Council Reaches Deeper into Citizens' Pockets

In the last few days of November, Evanston's City Council voted to increase the property tax rate by another 4.63% for the 2012 budget year. This increase is to fund the pension and debt costs, according to an accounting of the Council's vote by the Pioneer Local newspaper of December 1. The translation of that property tax increase is described as adding $45 to a property owner's $5000 property tax bill. The 2012 budget has increased parking meter fees (25 cents per hour across the city), along with parking fine increases. More than ever, it is wise to avoid any expired parking meters in Evanston! Another area of increased cost is the water service to homes; the average Evanston family will pay an additional $7.88 next year. Still needing more revenue, the Council has voted to increase fees on refuse carts, a whopping jump from $1 to $7.95 for the small carts, and from $4 to $14.95 for the large carts!). Although not all members of the Council were 100% in support of all these cost increases to be carried by Evanstonians, the Council's attempts to cut costs (including reducing the city's payroll by eliminating job positions)were not enough to balance the budget for next year. The Council's November 29 meeting can be viewed on YouTube at this URL: http://www.youtube.com/v/8QYmvN0QtY4?version=3&hl=en_US