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Mayor Of Normal Not Keen To Copy Possible Bloomington Gas Tax

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Ralph Weisheit
/
WGLT
The Mayor of Normal was noncommittal about his town following a potential gas tax increase by Bloomington.

Debate over gasoline tax increases to fund road repairs in Bloomington and Normal is more complex than the question of keeping the amount the same in both cities.

Speaking on GLT's Sound Ideas, Mayor Chris Koos of Normal said there are other reasons a gas tax hike is tough to decide.

"The Highway Trust Fund from the federal government is going broke. There is talk about an increase at the state level on gas taxes and an increase at the federal level," said Koos.

Koos said even if Bloomington goes ahead with a potential 4-cent per gallon increase, he sees no urgency for Normal to follow.

Koos said he generally likes to see parity between the cities on sales taxes, but even there, a few years ago Normal waited a long time before matching Bloomington.

"It was almost a year when we followed suit on it. So, it's not just a rubber stamp, Oh! Bloomington did it. Now Normal is going to do it," said Koos.

Koos said from motor fuel tax will continue to dwindle as cars become more efficient and electric vehicle use grows.

And Koos said it's far from certain that Bloomington will pass a proposed increase.

You can also listen to the full interview:

mayorkoosrepavingQA-long.mp3
GLT's interview with Koos.

People like you value experienced, knowledgeable and award-winning journalism that covers meaningful stories in Bloomington-Normal. To support more stories and interviews like this one, please consider making a contribution.

WGLT Senior Reporter Charlie Schlenker has spent more than three award-winning decades in radio. He lives in Normal with his family.