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Belleville reopens Special Service Area 4 hearing after ordinance clerical error; residents question tax figures
Summary
City staff reopened a public hearing on Special Service Area 4 after a clerical error in a prior ordinance and notices; public commenters raised concerns about an apparent tax-rate typo (3¢ vs. $3 per $100) and asked how funds would be used, including whether downtown parking garages would be eligible.
Belleville officials reopened a public hearing Feb. 17 on creating Special Service Area 4 to levy property taxes and issue bonds after discovering a clerical error in the ordinance and the notices distributed to property owners. City staff said the underlying project and the previously announced tax amounts remain under review and that notices had to be reissued.
Jamie (Finance staff) and Eric Schuster, director of grants and special projects, explained that the city is correcting a clerical error in the ordinance and redoing the public-notice process so affected property owners could comment.
During the hearing, Sun Waza, a resident and public commenter, said the published tax rate appeared to be wrong and urged the council to fix it. "Last time, you told us that the rate was 3¢ per $100. Now it is saying there's $3," Waza said. "So 3¢ or $3 mistake, there's a 10,000% increase." He noted a $50,000 cap on service tax and said that detail matters for individual impacts.
Darla, who identified herself as a downtown business owner, asked how the funds would be allocated and whether the increment would mostly pay for parking garages or other downtown improvements. "I don't mind paying extra taxes for things that are coming through to help the city and help commerce," she said, "but I don't see our parking pool, and I think a lot of the parking is for improvements for people who are wanting to put rentals and lease buildings." City staff responded that the Downtown Belleville development commission determines eligible projects and that at least one large project is required under the SSA rules.
Jack Machine, speaking later during public participation as part of the Kerner/Korner House Committee, urged council to approve two Korner House contracts on the agenda and said the project is supported by three state grants; he said the repairs would improve neighborhood appearance and help tell the site's story.
The council closed the public hearing and proceeded with the agenda; no SSA levy or bond vote occurred at the Feb. 17 meeting. The city indicated the downtown commission and staff will finalize project eligibility and notices before any formal vote on establishing the SSA.
Next steps: the city will complete corrected notices tied to the ordinance and the Downtown Belleville development commission will identify the large project(s) eligible to be funded through the SSA before the council considers final approval.
