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District 87 and Unit 5 school boards to vote on putting sales tax measure on April ballot

A teacher stands in front of smartboard in a classroom. She is leading a class of teens, who are sitting at desks arranged into sets of four.
Courtesy
/
District 87
A class of English language learners in District 87. The Bloomington-based school district, as well as Unit 5, may ask voters to approve a 1% sales tax.

The District 87 and Unit 5 school boards will decide Wednesday whether to ask voters for a 1% sales tax increase to help pay for school facility repairs, additions, renovations and other priorities. If approved, the question would go on the April 1, 2025 ballot.

The Unit 5 board, which discussed the possibility last month, is scrambling to find more than $50 million to fund facility repairs and updates over the next five years. This does not include the cost of replacing its aging portable classrooms.

The Illinois County Schools Facility Sales Tax is a 1% sales tax that applies to items like food in restaurants, gasoline, online shopping and other retail purchases. Exemptions would include over-the-counter drugs, groceries, vehicles and farming essentials.

PDF: District 87 presentation about the 1% sales tax

Unit 5 estimated a tax could generate $16 million to $20 million per year. Last month, Superintendent Kristen Weikle also noted visitors to the community would pay some of the tax to support facilities.

District 87 Superintendent David Mouser also has voiced support for placing the tax issue on the ballot. He said at the school board's November meeting that one benefit of the sales tax would be relieving the burden of property tax as EAVs have risen steadily, while allowing Bloomington District 87 a new source of funding for safety and mental health services.

Some Unit 5 board members also have indicated a sales tax option would be preferable to raising the property tax rate.

School districts in McLean County tried and failed to get a sales tax approved in 2014.

Corrected: December 18, 2024 at 7:52 PM CST
This story corrects which items are subject to the school facilities sales tax.
WGLT Senior Reporter Charlie Schlenker has spent more than three award-winning decades in radio. He lives in Normal with his family.
Melissa Ellin is a reporter at WGLT and a Report for America corps member, focused on mental health coverage.