A Danville City Council committee is recommending implementing a local one-percent grocery tax to replace the one being dropped by the State of Illinois. Bill Pickett has more…
Consumers would see no increase but some city council members believe it is an opportunity to give taxpayers a break. But alderwoman Sharon Pickering says the city needs the money…
{AUDIO: “How many people are going to go out, if we don’t pass this, and we take the one percent off. How many people do you think are going to go out and look at their grocery bill and say ‘Oh my gosh, look what the City of Danville saved me!’ They’re not going to notice. It might be a dollar. It might be two dollars – they’re not going to notice. But we as a city can lose up to – and maybe more, maybe less – three-quarters of a million dollars if we vote this down.”}
The Public Services Committtee voted last night to recommend the full city council approve the one-percent local grocery tax. It would take effect January 1st if approved by the full city council – the same date the state drops its one-percent tax.
City Comptroller Alyssa Sweeten noted Danville residents are not the only ones who would be paying the one-percent local sales tax…
{AUDIO: “When we talk about the grocery tax it’s everybody who buys groceries in Danville. It’s not just the seniors that live in the city. Its people who come up from Georgetown, or Westville, people from Oakwood (and) Covington. Everybody who comes to Danville to go to our WalMart or our Meijer are paying that one-percent. So it’s actually relieving that tax debt off of the citizens who live in Danville.”}
Meanwhile city council members are also reviewing a possible 9-cent per gallon increase in the local gas tax. Council members have been told the 9 cent hike is necessary because of an error that went undetected for fifteen years regarding the amount of gas tax the city was supposed to be collecting. Alderman Jon Cooper is opposed to the proposed 9-cent a gallon increase…
{AUDIO: “So we’re going after a 9-cent gas tax on an error that happened fifteen years ago. I think that’s where I’ve got a problem with it. I mean, why don’t we just go back to where we were with it and then gradually increase it, instead of going after it at one time?”}
The full city council will discuss and possibly vote on the gas tax next week.
Mayor Ricky Williams noted the money expected from the one-percent local sales tax and proposed nine-cents a gallon hike in the gas tax are already included in the new budget proposal. So if they are not approved areas will need to be found to make cuts in the budget.
Also during their meeting, the Public Services Committee recommended the awarding of a $1.1 million dollar contract to demolish Bresee Tower. The County will be paying $880-thousand dollars for the demolition of the courthouse annex. The demolition is expected to be completed by late summer of next year according to Danville Public Works Director Dave Ruwe.
