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Urbana council votes down county-requested reduction in city property tax mills
Summary
Council voted 2-5 on Oct. 21 to decline participation in Greene County's request to reduce the city's inside millage from 1.8 to 1.5. City finance staff said the cut would cost roughly $107,000 in General Fund revenue (about $27 per household).
Urbana City Council on Oct. 21 considered Resolution 2721-25, a request that the County Budget Commission approve a temporary reduction in the City's inside property-tax rate from 1.8 mills to 1.5 mills for taxes assessed in 2025 and collected in 2026. The measure failed on a 2-5 roll call vote.
Director of Law Mark Feinstein told the council that Finance was not urging passage. Director of Finance Matt Wellbaum provided the fiscal analysis: adopting the reduction would reduce General Fund revenue by approximately $107,000 — an amount he equated to roughly $27 per household. Wellbaum also flagged near-term expense pressures, including a larger-than-expected health-insurance increase and future ladder-truck costs that would increase General Fund obligations.
"Finance is not asking Council to pass this," Feinstein said, framing the presentation as information following a request from Greene County Commissioner Cassady. After discussion about the local fiscal impacts, Council recorded the roll-call vote: Ms. Jumper and Mr. Scott voted yes; Mr. Thackery, Mrs. Collier, Mrs. Bean, Mr. Davis and Ms. Truelove voted no. The resolution therefore failed.
Mayor Bill Bean later told the council he opposed participating, saying he believed county officials did not sufficiently account for municipal responsibilities such as fire, water and wastewater operations. The council adjourned at 7:14 p.m. with the resolution defeated.
