School board members in District 87 and Unit 5 are set to vote this week on resolutions pledging to use potential proceeds generated by a 1% countywide sales tax to offset each district's reliance on property taxes.
McLean County voters won't decide whether to approve the proposed one-cent tax until the election on April 1; District 87 and Unit 5, along with other districts in more rural parts of the county, voted in December to put the question before voters about a decade after a similar measure failed by a 2-to-1 margin.
Now, Unit 5 and District 87's boards are each set to vote Wednesday on a resolution that would guide how the districts use a third of the proceeds that would come from the tax — with each resolution [though they vary slightly in language] stating that "a portion of not less than 33%" of those proceeds would be used to provide property tax relief for "each of the next five years."
"This resolution shows the District commitment to working to reduce a reliance on property taxes," Unit 5 superintendent Kristen Weikle said in a statement. "It is more than just talking about it. It is voting on a resolution. If approved, Unit 5 would offset one-third of new one-cent tax revenue to reduce the property tax rate for at least five years."
Weikle said it's possible other, similar resolutions could be adopted by other districts in the county "based on their own needs and resources." Superintendents in Heyworth and Tri-Valley told WGLT earlier this month they planned to dedicate a portion to property tax relief.
No other districts, including District 87, could be reached for comment Monday due to the President's Day holiday.
Unit 5's school board meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Normal West. District 87's board meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Bloomington High School.
Sales tax: How it works
The one-cent sales tax was proposed as a means of addressing ongoing financial needs within the county's school districts — particularly facility upgrades. If passed, the tax is estimated to create an additional $30 million in revenue that would be split among all schools in the county, with District 87 estimated to receive $6.5 million and Unit 5 between $16-20 million.
Revenue from the tax can also be used to fund school security, mental health resources and energy efficiency projects.
If approved by voters, the sales tax in McLean County would increase by 1 percentage point for eligible items such as retail purchases, prepared food and gasoline. A $10 meal at a restaurant would cost an extra 10 cents. The one-cent sales tax would not apply to groceries, prescription drugs or services like getting a haircut.
Other counties that have passed a similar tax include Peoria, Sangamon, Macon, Champaign and Livingston. In all, 57 out of 102 counties in the state have done so.
The referendum requires a majority vote to pass. Early voting starts on Feb. 20.
Braden Fogerson contributed reporting.
