Residents of Galesburg may have to pay higher gas and electric bills next year. Tonight, the city council will vote on a utility tax to help fund infrastructure maintenance.
Steve Brody, from the Chamber of Commerce, says revenue from the tax would pay for repairs to parts of the city that have been neglected for years. And, make up for a lack of state funding.
The utility tax would raise gas and electric bills by about 5 percent. And, that potential increase concerns local business-owners.
The Chamber sent out a survey to gauge how residents feel about the proposed utility tax. Over 70 percent voted in favor of the city investing more money in maintenance. But, responders were about evenly split on whether they support this tax to pay for the projects.
Brody says if the city council approves the tax tonight, it would take effect in January.