Sales Tax

McLean County Board Chair Elizabeth Johnston says she’s encouraged to hear the City of Bloomington reaffirm its commitment to mental health, but the county is resisting efforts by the city and Town of Normal to suspend sharing tax revenue for the mental health and public safety fund.

The Bloomington City Council has now approved an audit and a pause on giving city sales tax money to McLean County government for jail bond debt, criminal justice technology, and mental health services. So, now what?

The McLean County Board on Thursday approved an audit of the county’s mental health and public safety sales tax fund. The resolution to the intergovernmental agreement [IGA] will require approval by the Town of Normal and City of Bloomington.

Normal City Manager Pam Reece says some of the mental health and behavioral health initiatives McLean County runs are, in effect, pre-funded.

The McLean County Board Executive Committee on Monday approved an audit of the county’s 1% mental health and public safety sales tax fund. The full board will consider the resolution at its regular meeting Thursday.

The tax money would instead stay with the municipalities during that time. The County Board’s Executive Committee is expected to consider the measure during its 4 p.m. meeting on Monday.

Two resolutions before each district's respective school boards this week pledge that "not less than 33%" of the proceeds from a proposed 1% sales tax will be used to reduce the property tax rate for at least five years.

Normal City Manager Pam Reece said the town will keep a watchful eye on the spring legislative session in Springfield.

Mayor Chris Koos is pushing back on the position that natural revenue growth can make up for the upcoming loss of grocery sales tax revenue.

Normal Mayor Chris Koos said adding specific protections from discrimination for transgender and non-binary people to the town human relations ordinance is a necessary public signal.