Members of the Vermilion County Board have postponed taking a stance on an advisory sales tax referendum. But the issue will still be on the April 4th Consolidated Election Ballot.
Salt Fork School Superintendent Phil Cox claimed during Tuesday evening’s County Board meeting that the referendum ‘’is not a money grab’’…
{Audio: ‘’The way we view the question is what do we feel is the better way to pay for these future improvements: To continue to do it on the backs solely of property tax owners, or to look at an alternate source of revenue – being a sales tax? And what’s important – and the reason our board liked this is that everybody contributes to that source of revenue, and specifically – and here’s the key – people who don’t live in Vermilion County contribute to it.’’
But County Board member Shelley McLain said she believes it is inappropriate for the board to even discuss the advisory referendum. “We are not lobbyists!’’ — proclaimed McLain.
County Board Chairman Larry Baughn abstained saying he would make his decision ‘’at the ballot box.’’
Twenty-two board members voted in favor of the motion to postpone indefinitely taking a stand on the referendum. Hawker was the only board member voting ‘no’, and three others were absent.
The County School Facilities Sales Tax that will be on the April 4th ballot has failed in two previous attempts for passage since 2018.
If approved, the tax would not apply to groceries and medicine, vehicles, mobile homes, and several areas related to farming. They include the purchase of seed and fertilizer and other farm inputs, plus farm equipment. The money raised could be used for a variety of things including renovation of existing schools or construction of new ones, reducing property taxes, providing mental health services, and hiring additional school resource officers, or fire prevention and other Life Safety improvements.
Westville Unit 2 School District Superintendent Seth Miller says their Board of Education has pledged to decrease property taxes if the referendum passes. He says a second priority would be additional school resource officers.
Salt Fork School Superintendent Phil Cox says the sales tax proposal has already been approved by over half of the counties in the state….
{AUDIO: ‘’Think about the thousands of people that simply pass on I-74 through our county every single day, and are stopping at the Oakwood truck stop. They will contribute to our schools. The people from Indiana that shop in Danville. They will contribute to our schools. The people who are going to be coming and spending through the casino – they are going to contribute to our schools. And none of our boards like the concept of an increased sales tax – don’t get me wrong. But when you look at the fact that over half of the counties in the state have already passed this – none of those counties that have passed it have suffered this huge economic catastrophe.’’
Danville School District 118 would be among county school districts receiving additional money if the referendum passes, even though the district is not among those that requested the issue be placed on the April ballot.
News story here.
