by: Diane Benjamin
Today the Pantagraph supported the 1% Sales Tax for schools. Here’s the actual wording that will be on the ballot:
Shall a retailers’ occupation tax
and a service occupation tax
(commonly referred to as a “sales
tax”) be imposed in The County of
McLean, Illinois, at a rate of 1% to
be used exclusively for school
facility purposes?
YES
NO
Think for a minute Pantagraph. The tax is expected to raise at least $16.5 million per year. That’s $16.5 million citizens can not choose to spend where they want, but that’s another discussion.
This is a permanent tax. $16.5 million x 10 years is $165 million. $16.5 million x 20 years is $330 million.
Do you really think $330,000,000 is going to used exclusively for facilities in the next 20 years? What about the next 40 Years? Are the schools going to be gold-plated by then?
You neglected to mention the schools are salivating for new bond money that can be issued based on the expected Sales Tax money. Our kids are already in enough debt to local governments, the State of Illinois, and the Federal Government!
How dare you endorse a plan to bury future generations in even more debt! Do you see any wording on the ballot about property taxes decreasing? I don’t, but your endorsement intimated as much. Sales tax revenue is decreasing again, what happens when the interest can’t be paid on the bonds because not enough Sales Tax revenue came in? Maybe the highly paid administrators will forgo their salaries. Or, maybe they will just raise property taxes. Which one is more likely? Maybe you should research “double-barrel” bonds.
At least you were smart enough to say vote NO on Modified Wards.
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A service occupation tax???
Government can’t call things what they are! Did you get your cart? aka garbage can!
“Man is not free, unless government is limited” — President Ronald Reagan
“Chuck is not wrong, unless he talks.” – madboy
Can’t we discuss issues instead of launching personal attacks?
Thank you web staff……………..I guess madboy has not read any of my comments that I have made on past news reports. I do like to use quotes to make my point but many times I have shared my ideas and statements. Really madboy, just another low blow from the left!
At least the Pantycrap got it right with the modified ward issue. That surprised me. The school issue did not.
Fazzini just announced he isn’t running again!
I hope to see a story here today about Fazzini. There MUST be more to this story.
WOW web staff! I wonder who Renner has up his sleeve now to fill that potted plant!!!
Who could Renner possibly find that’s more in his pocket than Fazzini? I think it takes a lot of guts to stir up controversy, then bail out before the vote is even taken. OR, was Fazzini just the pawn of our dear mayor?