Proposed Frankfort Sales Tax Hike Focus Of Village Forums

FRANKFORT, IL — Two special public meetings will be held before November's election to discuss the referendum to raise Frankfort's sales tax. These forums will give residents a chance to ask village officials questions about the proposed measure on the Nov. 6 ballot that could see the village's sales tax increased by 1 percent.

The meetings about the village's upcoming sales tax referendum will be at the Village Hall on the following days:

• 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20
• 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22

Frankfort's sales tax is currently the lowest among Lincoln-Way communities at 7 percent. For comparison, Mokena's sales tax is 7.5 percent, and New Lenox, is 9 percent.

RELATED: Frankfort Puts Sales Tax Hike Referendum On November Ballot

Raising the rate to 8 percent would generate around $2.8 million for the village, officials say. That revenue will go toward hiring police officers and contributing to Frankfort's capital fund in order to pay for infrastructure improvement.

According to the village, the proposed referendum question on the Nov. 6 ballot will read as follows:

“Shall the corporate authorities of the Village of Frankfort, Will and Cook Counties, Illinois, be authorized to levy a Non-Home Rule Retailers’ Occupation Tax and a Non-Home Rule Service Occupation Tax at the rate of one (1%) percent for expenditure on municipal operations, expenditures on public infrastructure, or property tax relief?”

RELATED: Should Frankfort Raise Its Sales Tax?

Sales tax makes up 38 percent of the village's revenue, with 24 percent coming from property taxes and 11 percent from income taxes, a percentage that has been lowered by the state. If the sales tax increase passes, the village estimates around 70 percent of the money generated will come from non-residents.

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