NORTH BALTIMORE – Village residents may see a small increase in their property taxes next
year.At Tuesday’s council meeting, members gave a first reading to legislation that would raise the
special assessment for the cost of street lighting about 34 percent. The proposed increased would raise
the assessment from its current level at $35,000 and increase it to $47,000. The increase would be
collected in 2014, if passed.The cost is distributed among about 2,300 parcels of land in North
Baltimore and would cost the owner of a home appraised at $100,000 about $11 more annually. Property
owners currently pay $32.69 for the assessment. If the legislation is approved, the tax assessment would
increase to $43.90, according to the Wood County Auditor’s Office.North Baltimore Mayor Mike Julien
called the proposed legislation a "break-even proposition.""Our costs have come to the
point where we are operating in the red," Julien said.Also, Julien said, additional street lights
have been added in the village, particularly at the new roundabout.Council members attempted to pass the
proposed legislation as an emergency measure Tuesday. However, because council member Leslee Thompson
voted against the legislation and Bill Cameron was absent from the meeting, it was unable to pass as an
emergency measure. To be passed as an emergency, 75 percent of council members have to approve. Instead,
council gave the ordinance a first reading.