MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (AP) — Property owners near the Mississippi River may face tax increases to pay for repairs to drainage pipes in levees.

The Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale reports (http://bit.ly/1rLpoKp ) several levee districts are joining together on the proposed property tax increase to raise about $1.2 million.

Randy Lambdin of Preston Levee District says the money would be used to reline pipes. He says the repairs are needed to avoid the collapse of drainage pipes that could cause a levee to fail.

The levee districts of Preston, Clear Creek, East Cape Girardeau/McClure and North Alexander are proposing the drainage tax.

The tax would range from $7 to $75, depending on how the property is used.

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