Most Vermilion County school districts have been urging voters to ‘vote yes’ on a 1-percent School Facility Tax that’s on the ballot next Tuesday. But Danville Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. wants voters to reject the tax hike….
“Our schools do a lot of great work, however they need to tighten their belts like the rest of us have,’’ said Williams. ‘’Last year we eliminated over a half-a-million dollars in positions, and I don’t see those same kind of eliminations in most of the school districts. So I would just encourage them to make sure they have cut all the waste first before asking people for more,’’ added Mayor Williams.
And the mayor notes that if the increase is approved the total sales tax for Danville will rise to 10.25 percent. Danville’s sales tax would be the same as the rate in Chicago.
Instead of raising the sales tax, Mayor Williams is challenging Vermilion County School districts to cut costs….
{‘’I would just challenge everyone to make sure that they are doing the absolute best they can with the resources they already have. And if they need more resources in Georgetown – for example – then they need to make sure that they find the resources in their community to pay for it. Folks in Hoopeston shouldn’t have to be paying for services that are provided in Georgetown just the same way folks in Oakwood shouldn’t have to pay for services in Danville,’’ added Williams.}
It is projected that Vermilion County school districts would receive over $5.4 million dollars in new revenue annually if the sales tax proposal is approved. Danville School District 118 would receive an estimated $2-million, 525-thousand dollars.
Although some people have suggested on social media that the City of Danville lower its sales tax, Mayor Williams says those funds are needed for services – such as the city’s full-time fire department and city parks.
