 The County School Facility Occupation Tax Law put into effect by the
state of Illinois in October of 2007 is gaining popularity in
Illinois counties. When nearby Iowa passed a like measure, it swept
the state.
Most if not all of Logan County's school boards have already
passed the resolution.
With the Lincoln Community High School and Lincoln Elementary
School boards already having passed resolutions, and those districts
representing over 51 percent of the student population in the
county, the Logan County Board only needed to "certify" the request
for Logan County Clerk Sally Litterly to place it on next spring's
ballot.
The schools would be able to use the funds to replace aging
structures, maintain facilities, pay back capital bonds and, when
possible, build a pool of funds for future use.
A few of the schools, including Lincoln Community High School,
are also committing that if passed, they would return their portion
of property tax collected for life safety and capital improvement.
Once the voters approve the measure, it would return to the
county board to decide the percentage of the sales tax increase:
0.25, 0.5, 0.75 or 1 percent.
See further details on the use of the funds in either
Illinois General Assembly Public Act 95-0675 or "LCHS
board agrees to seek sales tax increase with property tax reduction."
Ten of 11 county board members present at the adjourned session
on Dec. 21 voted yes to put the sales tax referendum on the April 5
ballot. Kevin Bateman voted no and Rick Aylesworth was absent.
A new vehicle is needed for animal control. Due to the vehicle
shortage, warden Julie Parker has been using her own vehicle to pick
up animals, board chairman Bob Farmer said.
Four bids for a new truck came in. The lowest bid of $11,825 was
accepted from Landmark Ford. There were nine votes yes; abstaining
were Kevin Bateman and Pat O'Neill.
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