Will County Board Members To Host Gas Tax Public Forum

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Members of the Will County Board Democrats will host a public forum in Bolingbrook Monday for residents to learn more and weigh in on the proposed gas tax in the county. The event will be held from 6-8:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7 at the Bolingbrook Community Center, 201 Canterbury Ln.

As part of Gov. JB Pritzker's $45 billion capital plan, counties in the state were given the authority to levy a local gas tax of up to 8 cents-per-gallon. That tax would be on top of federal, state and municipal taxes drivers already pay.

The Will County Board is now considering such a tax, but the measure has proved controversial. The county's Republican Caucus said in early September it opposes a gas tax, saying gas taxes have been raised enough.

"Illinois residents are taxed enough already and now the Democrats want to increase the taxes on Will County residents," Republican board member from New Lenox Ray Tuminello said in a release. "With the current and new state taxes and fees, it is time to give people a break."

According to the Republicans, Will County will already receive an additional $10 million a year from the state's new 19 cent-per-gallon tax.

On Monday, Will County Board Member Jackie Traynere and the Will County Board Democrats will host the meeting to discuss the tax proposal and the county's "road needs," according an event page on Facebook. The area's warehouse and logistics industries has been growing, which has further taxes infrastructure.

Will County's Director of Transportation, Jeff Ronaldson, will be on hand at the meeting, according to the Herald-News. For more information on the event, click here.