DeKALB – The DeKalb Public Library is requesting a $1.18 million budget increase, a move questioned by city officials who demand an explanation.

The city council discussed the increase Tuesday at the DeKalb Public Library.

The library’s proposed levy for 2024 is $4.6 million, an increase of $1,178,541 over the library’s 2023 levy.

For a home with a market value of $409,725, the proposed levy would result in an increase of $50 in taxes paid to the library.

Members of the council noted no one from the library was present at the meeting to explain the increase. The library’s director is Emily Faulkner.

“The amount goes up $1,000,000 with no justification where the million dollars is going,” 4th Ward Alderman Greg Perkins said while discussing the increase. “I’ve talked with Emily (Faulkner), and we had come to an agreement on a different number, and then this one comes out.”  

City Manager Bill Nicklas said a meeting to discuss the increase is scheduled with Faulkner for Wednesday morning and will include Perkins and Mayor Cohen Barnes.

The proposed city corporate levy for 2024 is $8,341,336,  an increase of 8% over last year’s levy. For a single family home with a market value of $409,725, this would be a decrease in taxes paid to the city of $102.

Second Ward Alderwoman Barb Larson agreed with Perkins that the library needed to provide more information about how the money will be used.

“They’ve given us no information outside of this crazy number,” Larson said.

The increase was part of a discussion surrounding the proposed tax levy for 2024.

The aggregate levy is the amount requested by the city and the library combined.

The proposed aggregate levy for 2024 is $12,907,788. This is an increase of $1,796,418 over the combined levies for last year.

The aggregate levy is an increase of 16.17% over the previous year. As a result, the city held a truth in taxation hearing during the meeting, which is required by Illinois law when an increase in taxes greater than 5% from the previous year is proposed by the city.

“I’m very comfortable voting no and finding out what happens if we vote no,” Perkins said. “This is just so befuddling to me, to be handed a $1,000,000 bill with no justification as to why.”

Perkins was the only no vote to the first reading of the ordinance authorizing the 2024 levy.

IDOT Metra Phase 2 Funding

The Illinois Department of Transportation approved a grant request from the city to fund a Planning and Environmental Linkages study for the rail corridor between the Elburn Metra station and the City of DeKalb.

The grant will provide 80% of the costs associated with conducting the study, up to $400,000. 

The remaining 20% will be paid for using NIU transit contribution funds.

The city commissioned a study in 2023 that found a Metra extension would have a ridership of 259 people on weekdays and 189 on weekends.

According to Nicklas, the project will cost $500,000 with the city paying for $100,000 of that cost from its transit budget.

SOLAR FARM

The city approved a request from PSE Huber IL Solar LLC to build a 5-megawatt solar farm.

The 48-acre development will be at the Southwest corner of Illinois Route 38 and John Huber Parkway.

The company hopes to begin construction by fall of next year, according to Brant Thomas, a spokesman for PureSky Energy.

The next city council meeting will be 6 p.m. Nov. 25 in the DeKalb Public Library.