The current property tax rate as well as the 17th Class A liquor license were discussed and not altered at Monday night’s DeKalb City Council meeting.

The property tax currently stands at .$60 and is used to fund the police and fire pension.

The city is currently $36.9 million dollars away from completing the pension funds, which must be 100 percent funded by 2033. The police pension is 64 percent funded while the fire pension is 46 percent funded.

Third Ward Alderman Victor Wogen wanted to levy the property taxes to $4,339,151 which would be a rate of $0.67 per $100 Equalized Assessed Valuation (EAV) to make up the deficit.

“We have to do it for the betterment of the city,” Wogen said. “I just don’t think we can keep putting the city in the situation where we’re taking from the general fund.”

First Ward Alderman Bertrand Simpson echoed Wogen’s concern.

“We cannot turn our backs an all our deficits,” Simpson said. “If we keep putting it off, it’s going to drown us.”

The proposed increase to $0.67 failed with a 3-4 vote. The council then voted, 5-2 to keep the current rate, $0.60 per $100 EAV which would bring in $3,889,007.

Also discussed at the meeting was the elimination of the 17th Class A liquor License.

The elimination would not be permanent said Acting Mayor Kris Polvsen.

“This will be very temporary,” Polvsen said. “By mid-January we hope to have the license in place.”

Lawyer Riley Oncken spoke on behalf of the owners of Detox, 1000 W. Lincoln Highway, and Detox manager Randy Vasquez. The bar was recently closed due to revocation of the building’s Class A liquor license.

“My client and I feel that the rules are being changed midway through the game,” Oncken said. “Mr. Vasquez has been the only applicant for this license.”

Sixth Ward Alderman Dave Baker as well as 7th Ward Alderman Brent Keller voiced support in keeping the 17th license.

“I think it’d be wrong for us to eliminate the license,” Baker said. “This council needs to consider that this building has over $1 million worth of investments in it. If they meet the criteria they should be able to operate.”

Povlsen, who also acts as DeKalb’s liquor commissioner, encouraged business owners and residents to submit their business plans for the Class A liquor license.

City Attorney Norma Guess explained the logic in eliminating the 17th license.

If a license is open and someone applies for it that is qualified but the deputy liquor commissioner does not want to issue that license, the applicant can then go to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission and appeal that decision, Guess said.

Robert Goering, manager of Andy’s and McAbe’s lounge, 317 E. Lincoln Highway, addressed the council to inform them Andy’s and McAbe’s lounge would be applying for the license.

Goering was not able to disclose any details of plans at this time.

The council voted against eliminating the 17th license, and the license still remains unissued.