Illinois mine wants tax cut

HARRISBURG, Ill. -- Illinois' largest underground coal mine asked Saline County tax officials Tuesday to take about $9 million off its property-tax assessment, a move that would cut its yearly tax bill by more than 99 percent.

The American Coal Co. and the Galatia School District in Southern Illinois took their yearlong fight to the Saline County Board of Review, which decides tax complaints.

At issue is the company's $900,000 annual bill, which company lawyers say should be about $7,000 because a tax break obtained by the mine's previous owners never took effect. But local school officials say such a cut would take some $350,000 from the schools.