Committee approves sales tax plan, issue
moves on to County Board
On a unanimous vote Tuesday, the County-wide School Facilities Sales Tax Steering Committee
agreed to seek to place the issue on the November election ballot.
Basically the Tax Plan calls for a tax of .25 to one cent, with the money to be used only for building
needs (new, repairs, etc.). None of the money can be used for education or paying salaries.
The next step is to approach the Sangamon County Board to allow placement on the ballot. The
County Board will have a say-so on the amount of the tax, which can be up to one cent.
Every school district in the county, plus four others who have county residents attending their
schools, have approved the issue. Most all were in attendance Tuesday.
The meeting was opened by remarks from Linn Warfel of the Champaign County Citizen's Committee.
Champaign County has approved the tax, and Warfel discussed campaign strategy, etc., that will and
will not work. Education is a key but there is a short time frame to the November election.
The tax could raise an estimated $19 million per year, and would keep school districts from asking
taxpayers for more money through bond issues. This tax money could help districts pay off building
bonds, build additional classrooms and in many cases reduce property taxes.
The tax, if passed at one cent, is estimated to raise the following amounts per year, based on
enrollments for Sangamon County schools and those out of the county with Sangamon residents:
Springfield $9.865 million, Ball-Chatham $2.969 million, Rochester $1.5 million, Riverton $1.01
million, Auburn $983,000, Williamsville $960,000, Pleasant Plains $907,000, New Berlin $516,000,
Pawnee $405,000 and Tri-City $395,000.
moves on to County Board
On a unanimous vote Tuesday, the County-wide School Facilities Sales Tax Steering Committee
agreed to seek to place the issue on the November election ballot.
Basically the Tax Plan calls for a tax of .25 to one cent, with the money to be used only for building
needs (new, repairs, etc.). None of the money can be used for education or paying salaries.
The next step is to approach the Sangamon County Board to allow placement on the ballot. The
County Board will have a say-so on the amount of the tax, which can be up to one cent.
Every school district in the county, plus four others who have county residents attending their
schools, have approved the issue. Most all were in attendance Tuesday.
The meeting was opened by remarks from Linn Warfel of the Champaign County Citizen's Committee.
Champaign County has approved the tax, and Warfel discussed campaign strategy, etc., that will and
will not work. Education is a key but there is a short time frame to the November election.
The tax could raise an estimated $19 million per year, and would keep school districts from asking
taxpayers for more money through bond issues. This tax money could help districts pay off building
bonds, build additional classrooms and in many cases reduce property taxes.
The tax, if passed at one cent, is estimated to raise the following amounts per year, based on
enrollments for Sangamon County schools and those out of the county with Sangamon residents:
Springfield $9.865 million, Ball-Chatham $2.969 million, Rochester $1.5 million, Riverton $1.01
million, Auburn $983,000, Williamsville $960,000, Pleasant Plains $907,000, New Berlin $516,000,
Pawnee $405,000 and Tri-City $395,000.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: March 27, 2008
Issue Date: March 27, 2008
Issue Date: April 15, 2010
Issue Date: March 27, 2008