Although three ordinances regarding tax levy items were passed by the Urbana City Council on Monday night, Heather Stevenson, Ward 6, voted against all of them. Stevenson explained she voted with regard for her constituents’ concerns about increasingly high tax bills each year.

“I’m voting no because in my ward, people aren’t necessarily selling their home, and yet the value of their home is going up and the tax bill is higher,” Stevenson said.

A resident’s tax bill is determined by the assessed value of the house. People are living on fixed incomes and budgeting their tax bill into that, Stevenson said. As the tax bill increases, people are dipping into their savings to cover the increases.

“We can also get more sales tax if we become more business-friendly,” she said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean raising taxes.”

An ordinance approving a redevelopment agreement with TC-Met Urbana, LLC, was greeted by hesitation from Council members before receiving their approval. When the ordinance was first presented to the Council, there was concern about the developer leasing the retail component of the project, located at 1008-1012 W. University Ave, to a retailer rather than leasing it as office space.

Instead of having the developer return to the Council to receive approval to lease to a nonretail user, the developer will make a “good-faith” agreement to try and rent the space to a retail user for one year after completion of the project. Only then may the developer look into other leasing options.

“I just wanted to say, ‘We’re watching,'” Dennis Roberts, Ward 5, said.

Tom Carrino, Urbana’s economic development manager, presented the economic development report to the Council for November. Carrino said there are many public works projects, such as the Philo Road development, Boneyard Creek beautification and a downtown Urbana parking study.

“Public works is taking the lead with participation in community development and economic development,” Carrino said.