DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — During Monday night's meeting, Decatur City Council tabled an ordinance that would add a tax to local business who use alternatively supplied natural gas.
City officials say Ameren customers pay a utility tax on their natural gas supply each month, but those with alternative suppliers don't. They say that there are over 35,000 accounts that pay the tax, leaving 450 accounts -- with roughly 200 payers -- who do not pay the utility tax.
The city said creating this additional tax would keep taxing in Decatur equitable.
The Gas Use Tax would implement a tax of $0.0425 per unit of heat energy -- called a therm.
According to a memo from City Manager Tim Gleason, Ameren agreed to set up a tiered rate structure that would only increase $0.0225 per therm for large users.
Decatur City Council voted to table the ordinance for discussion after members of the public -- including multiple small business owners -- said they felt slighted by the proposed ordinance as they had not heard about it prior.
The ordinance was tabled with the stipulation that all businesses would be formally notified in advance of further action.
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