City council could revise municipal motor fuel tax

Article by:

Joe Healy – City Government Reporter

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In a potential move that could affect both DeKalb residents and students alike, the city council will take the first step in voting on revisions to both the municipal motor fuel tax and the city sales tax.

The municipal motor fuel tax would call for an ordinance that would create a two-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax to be used specifically for road construction and other maintenance projects.

If this were approved, anyone purchasing gasoline at any outlet throughout the city of DeKalb would contribute to the tax.

Secondly, the city sales tax proposal calls for an increase of the DeKalb home rules sales tax increasing from its current 3/4 percent to 1percent.

Another aspect of the proposed municipal code calls for the reduction of taxes applied to single purchases from $3,333 to $2,500. Therefore, the maximum one would pay for a single purchase would be $25.

Both proposals are only first votes, which means a finalized vote and subsequent execution of both wouldn’t take place until the Sept. 8 meeting. Both also are being proposed to help strengthen the city’s budget.

Another first vote the council will discuss is the prohibition of parking on newly renovated Miller Avenue between Linden Place and Wooley Avenue. Parking, for the most part, would be restricted along the north side of Miller Ave. in an effort to appease residents and promote safe driving on the street.

The restriction of parking on the north side of Miller Avenue would be installed from 1 a.m. to 7 p.m., the same it was before construction. Administrative Services Director Linda Wiggins suggested students also should take this potential restriction into affect as parking citations have been issued before with classes within a close proximity to Miller Avenue.

The DeKalb City Council meeting will take place 7 p.m. today at the Council Chambers, 200 S. Fourth St.