Alton Passes Increased Tax Levy Ordinance

City of Alton - Committee of the Whole Meeting

ALTON – The Alton City Council passed an increased tax levy ordinance in a split vote this week, with two aldermen consistently voting against the item since it was first introduced.

City Council members voted 5-2 to pass the ordinance, with Aldermen Michael Velloff and Christopher Bohn voting against the item and all other aldermen voting in favor.

The new tax levy of just over $8.7 million is $393,755.84 higher than last year’s levy, representing an approximately 4.7% increase for the upcoming fiscal year from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.

The item was first considered at the Dec. 8, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting in the form of a resolution. At the time, Alderman Michael Velloff expressed concern that the increased levy would lead to increased taxes for property owners.

Velloff also criticized Mayor David Goins for campaigning on claims of a $7.7 million budget surplus under his administration, questioning where the surplus funds had gone and why the city was requesting more tax money from its citizens. Goins replied that the city is not raising taxes, but simply passing a tax levy.

Comptroller Debbie Dunlap said an increase in the levy does not translate to higher property tax bills or a higher property tax rate. Instead, the levy represents the share of property tax funds being requested by taxing bodies, and is partially based on an estimated increase in property values.

Alderman John Meehan asked if the dollar amount of the tax levy was increasing because the city’s property values are increasing, which Dunlap confirmed and said represents growth in Alton.

“We’re assuming people sold [property] – and we’re also assuming that they’re higher than they’ve been assessed – therefore, you’re capturing that growth in assessed value,” Dunlap said. “I think it’s irresponsible of a council member to say ‘No, we don’t want that growth, we are going to stay flat for the rest of the next term.’ That’s ridiculous.”

With the City Council’s 5-2 approval on Dec. 17, 2025, the tax levy passes in advance of the Dec. 30, 2025 deadline to be submitted to Madison County. A full recording of the Dec. 8, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.

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