Urbana council to consider tax increases
URBANA — Weeks after Mayor Laurel Prussing said a package liquor tax in Urbana was unlikely, the city council will consider just that — though at a lower figure than initial proposals.
The council will meet on Monday at 7 p.m. in the Urbana City Building, 400 S. Vine St., and is scheduled to start formal discussion on a 1 percent package liquor tax, part of which would fund salary increases for some union employees. The new tax would be accompanied by a proposed 1 percent increase in the city's hotel-motel tax.
The Champaign City Council in June considered a similar tax on retail alcohol sales — at the time, the surcharge was proposed at 4 percent, and Prussing said the city of Urbana might impose the same. The tax proposal failed in Champaign after liquor store owners vocally opposed it, and Prussing then said it was unlikely Urbana would move forward.
"I don't think Urbana would do it unless Champaign does it," Prussing said in June.
The draft also includes a proposal to raise the city's hotel-motel tax to 6 percent from its current 5 percent.
According to city documents, officials expect the two taxes would bring $270,000 in additional revenue. That would help fund contractual pay increases for employees in the city's police union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union.
In other business, the council is scheduled to discuss a proposed ordinance restricting panhandling, which is unregulated in Urbana.
According to city documents, courts have upheld panhandling as a protected form of free speech, but governments do have the right to place limits on the behavior. Under the proposed ordinance, panhandling would be prohibited on public property in the Philo Road business district, near bus stops, within 20 feet of an automated teller machine or in city-owned parking lots and garages.
"Aggressive panhandling" would also be prohibited, meaning it would be illegal to use profane or abusive language, to touch another person while asking for money or other charity, blocking that person's path or continuing to solicit someone who has already refused an earlier request.
Violators would be subject to a $165 fine.
According to a city memo, the proposal is part of the city's response to increased crime in southeast Urbana, where police have been receiving a "steady stream" of calls regarding panhandling.
I don't know which is worse panhandling or City of Urbana taxes and the constant adding to the restrictions of the people that live here (not that I approve of panhandling). But If the city council doesn't get off their Laurels (Prussing) and do something positive and good for the people of Urbana nobody will want to be here anymore. This isn't beachfront property in California, this is cornfield county with amber waves of grain as far as the eye can see, I think city government is totally CORN-FUSED on why they are there to begin with, the people elect you for a positive change, and I just don't see that happening at all. This town is heavily taxed already when are you going to stop.
There are many people having a hard time surviving and instead of helping your answer is tax them more, Shame on you! King George had this same problem in the 1770's and look how that turned out!
On another note are you proud of your main street in Urbanghettoa when people come to visit you,
RESURFACE MAIN STREET IT IS SHAMEFUL!!!
Historic City of Urbana no you tore it all down for the most part now its just The HYSTERICAL city of Urbana
I find your cognitive dissonance somewhat amusing. You demand resurfacing of the main street, which costs a significant amount of public money (raised through tax revenue), that Urbana clearly doesn't have very much of. However, you, in the same post, argue that taxes are far too high. Get your priorities in order. If you want government services, basic infrastructure repairs and the like, you need to be ready to pay for them. It's this fundamental disconnect in the minds of Americans between taxes and government programs that has caused things like America's infrastructure to degrade to a point that other developed nations would find shameful.
Am I missing something?
Do panhandlers have assets that can be confiscated to recover fines?
You have 10 unpaid panhandling violations; here is a seizure warrant for???
What next taxpayer paid incarceration for non-payment of panhandling fines. Followed by an additional tax to recover costs associated with enforcement, record-keeping, collection, legal proceedings, and other bureaucrat costs?
Apropos, flat monetary amounts of fines, without regard to incomes, though in violation of the basic doctrine of equitability and fairness may increase revenue – vide added fines against motorists, or homeowners, or businesses, – however what is the viability (or probability) of collection against panhandlers?
Just thinking; if a panhandler under the doctrine of “innocent until proven guilty” decides to challenge the allegations, then added burdens – court costs, witness requirements, etc…. Also wondering per proof requirements instead of radar (speeding), will photographing in the act be required?
I thought the hotel and food & beverage taxes were to support the CVB. Now that Urbana is not going to support the CVB the taxes should be repealed, not increased. I was in Urbana this past week. I drove down Lincoln Ave. and my only concern was missing the potholes in the road. I did not have time to see any of the public art that may or may not have been there. Urbana needs to get its priorities straight.
Typical thought process of a politician..."do what I say , or pay a fine." How do you think they would pay the fine? Panhandle for the $165? Would be nice if we had people governing the city that acted in the best interests of the PEOPLE of the city and not the City itself (those running the city).
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