Rockford Register Star article
TIMBERLANE — Timberlane’s 297 households will pay an extra $150 apiece in taxes so the city can tackle road repairs within the next decade.
The Village Board approved electric and natural-gas taxes last week that go into effect Jan. 1. Those taxes will generate $43,000 in annual revenue.
Board members reasoned that residents ultimately will realize a net savings, thanks to an electrical aggregation deal approved in June that allows the village to purchase cheaper electricity and pass the savings to residents. The measure will save households about $500 a year.
“For the past several years we have been living on a shoestring income. We have no business, and the only thing we are is a community,” Trustee Ron Stelling said.
Timberlane is on track to finish 2012 with a $20,000 budget surplus, but the village allocated just $20,500 this year for equipment purchases, road and bridge repairs, and engineering work. Local property taxes and the per-capita share of state income tax revenue covers 73 percent of village spending.
Officials have identified $3 million worth of road repairs to be completed in the next decade. In addition, Timberlane will be expected to pay its $129,000 share of a $900,000 repair of a 3-square-foot hole found in the Orth Road bridge. Officials also hope to rebuild Orth Road, which would cost an additional $156,000.
Paying for those projects would largely fall to Boone County if Timberlane were to dissolve, but trustees have not discussed that option. The desire to protect themselves from encroaching development spurred Timberlane residents to incorporate the village in 1995.
“When we built these subdivisions, it was likely for controlling our own destiny. … So far, we are holding our own,” Trustee Robert Marner said.
What it’ll cost
Here’s the average cost of the new utility taxes to each household in Timberlake:
Electric: $7.42/month ($89.04/year)
Here’s the average cost of the new utility taxes to each household in Timberlake:
Electric: $7.42/month ($89.04/year)