This story has been updated with a correction.

The Charleston City Council is moving forward at the end of the year with a new $4,168,552 tax levy as well as a new city attorney.

The council also approved the sale of 249 Jackson Ave., which the city took over because the building was in poor condition.

The newly approved tax levy amount is a 15-percent increase of from last year’s amount.

The tax levy is the maximum amount of money the city requests for the fiscal year.

The amount requested with determines what the next year’s property tax rate will be.

Mayor John Inyart said this money goes toward Charleston’s general fund.

Inyart said this is the first step of requesting the money from the county. After the request is sent, the county will figure any tax exemptions before property taxes next year.

Inyart said the county then figures the property tax rate for the tax bills that go out in June 2013.

Inyart said he expects the property tax rate to increase with the tax levy amount increase.

“We try to keep it in check the best we can but at the same time the cost of providing the services to our residents continues to go up,” Inyart said.

Throughout the meeting, members of the council congratulated Brian Bower, the former city attorney, for his new position as state’s attorney.

Bower was recently elected to the state’s attorney position.

Rachael Cunningham, an attorney at the Brainard Law Office, was hired in as city attorney and was welcomed during her first meeting Tuesday.

Scott Smith, the Charleston city manager, said he appreciates Bower for all the years of service he gave to the city of Charleston.

“I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to work with Brian for almost all the 23 years of service,” Smith said. “Brian’s done a good job of guiding me through treacherous waters.”

Amanda Wilkinson can be reached at 581-2812 or akwilkinson@eiu.edu.