For the second time in just more than a month, Waukegan taxpayers received a break from a governmental entity, when the city joined Waukegan Community School District 60 in keeping the real estate tax levy the same as the previous year. “I can’t promise you that your tax bill won’t go up, but it’s not because of the city,” Mayor Ann Taylor said at the meeting. Taxpayers will not be paying more for the city’s children’s schooling either.
Voting 5-3, with one member absent, on Sept. 18 to limit the mayor’s hiring power, Taylor issued her veto before the Oct. 2 meeting as required by state law. Six votes are needed to negate her action. Ald. Jose A. Guzman, 2nd Ward, asked to table the override vote, and then agreed to hold it over until the next meeting. With some members asking for an immediate vote, the council voted 5-4 to wait. The same members who voted for the change in September voted to wait.