ST. JOSPEH, Ill. (WCIA) — The Village of St. Joseph is offering an interesting deal for homeowners in nearby communities.

The village is proposing that 35 nearby homes become part of St. Joseph through a process called voluntary annexation. This move is intended to increase the population of St. Joseph, which would in turn enhance its eligibility for motor fuel tax allocations and other rebates from the state.

Homeowners who opt to join will gain benefits such as a property tax rebate, access to regular services, and voting rights. During a meeting on June 24, the Board of Trustees discussed this proposal and plans to send out invitation letters to the residents in the next few weeks.

St. Joseph Mayor Jim Page said it’s a real win-win for all parties involved.

“We can only annex properties directly adjacent to our current boundaries. At the moment, this applies to just 35 homes,” Page stated. “It’s a small number, not hundreds of residents. Our approach is to simply reach out to them and gauge their interest. It’s entirely up to them. If they’re not interested, that’s perfectly fine. If they are, we’re open to having discussions with them.”

The mayor said there will be an informational meeting in a couple of weeks for homeowners to learn more.