South suburban mayor pledged not to raise property taxes

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark says he's pledging not to raise the city's property taxes – except where the courts say they must – for the next fiscal year.

Harvey is one of 15 south suburbs hit with reassessments and seeing a sharp increase in the Cook County property tax bills. So, Clark has announced that to soften the blow, he's promising not to raise the property taxes the city controls. But there are things they don't control.

“Because the previous administration did not contribute its proper share to the police and fire pensions, the city must impose a tax to cover its court settlement with the police and fire pensions,” Clark said.

Clark also blames the higher taxes on the more than 460 commercial property tax owners who were delinquent on their bills.

Clark is also calling on the other taxing districts, like the schools and the townships, to hold the line and taxes as well.

He also wants the other suburban mayors to follow suit. He said he doesn't know how they would react since he's just making his pledge now.

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