Elgin needs a proposed 13.2% increase in property taxes to fill budget gaps for general operations and police and fire pensions, but the city council wants to look at other ways to generate additional revenues to avoid a tax hike.

City staff is recommending the tax levy, the first in more than a decade, to increase general operations by $4.2 million and help fund $3.3 million in public safety pension payments. The contributions increased due to the increased number of retired police officers.

If the council approves the increase, the city portion of tax bills would increase between $12.50 and $20.53 a month depending on the property’s equalized assessed valuation, according to figures the city released.

Management Analyst Giovanni Jungo explained what homeowners would pay during Wednesd

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