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Keokuk Looking at Tax Increase

Keokuk residents could be asked to pay more for city services.

The city council received an overview of the proposed spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1 during its first budget workshop.

Mayor Tom Marion says at first glance, the nearly $11-million budget will be tight with few discretionary dollars to go around.

The spending plan does rely on a roughly $1.00 increase in the property tax rate to help pay for employee benefits.

Marion says "that is something we have been a remiss about, so we are going to have to bite the bullet on that."

He says spending is down, compared to the current budget, but there is also no money in the budget for capital projects at this time, despite more than $1.5-million in requests for new vehicles and equipment.

Marion says those requests will be considered during future workshops, the next of which is Saturday, Jan. 25.

The Keokuk City Council must certify the city's budget by mid-March.

Jason Parrott is a former reporter at Tri States Public Radio.