SJ Commission Discusses Rates

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Residents of St. Joseph will be paying a bit more in taxes under a plan given its first reading by city commissioners Monday night. After a lengthy discussion, the commission gave its initial green light to a street millage increase of 2.55 mills, or about $200 a year for a home with a taxable value of $140,000. Mayor Mike Garey told WSJM News people seem to understand the streets need to be fixed, and that it’s going to cost something.

“Over the years, for many years, the city and elected officials have created a great amount of trust without the residents, and we would not be taking this lightly,” Garey said. “We don’t take it lightly, and it’s truly an investment in the community to improve out roads and the infrastructure. It’s one of those things where if the state doesn’t do it, no one else will do it for us.”

The commission also gave initial approval to a library millage increase of about $8 per year for that same $140,000 home. Additionally, commissioners approved the water and sewer rates, which will be going up 3.5% for water and 7% for sewer. That’s about $7.50 per quarter for the average home. The millage rates will get a second and final reading May 14.