'We Will Run Out Of Money': Kane County Wants Retail Sales Tax Boost

KANE COUNTY, IL — Kane County voters will be tasked on April 1 to decide whether to implement an increase in local sales tax.

The matter is dire, according to Kane County Board member Mavis Bates, who represents District 4. She attended the Aurora Lions Club bimonthly luncheon Thursday at Paulie's Pub to discuss the referendum, saying the county will "run out of money" otherwise.

The "safety sales tax" would be a 0.75 percent boost on sales tax for general purchases, yielding 75 cents for every $100 spent. Groceries, prescription medications, medical appliances and vehicles would be excluded.

Kane County's General Fund — which finances essential services including roads, public health, elections and public safety — is primarily supported by property taxes at a rate of 4 percent.

"Our county needs an increase in funding to maintain our service levels or we will run out of money in the near future and be forced to cut programs that affect the safety of our community," she said, per a news release from an Aurora Lions Club member.

As a result, a referendum was placed on the ballot for the April 1 Consolidated Election. It will read: "To pay for public safety purposes, shall the County of Kane be authorized to impose an increase on its share of local sales taxes by 0.75%? This would mean that a consumer would pay an additional $0.75 in sales tax for every $100 of tangible personal property bought at retail."

The additional sales tax revenue would be dedicated exclusively to public safety, including funding for Kane County's sheriff's office, state's attorney's office, coroner's office and judiciary.

Bates said the increase is intended to raise $51 million and would pay for unmandated safety programs including specialty courts, the Child Advocacy Center, programs by the state's attorney's office, the sheriff's Special Victims team, and infrastructure upgrades to the county jail.

"Every dollar raised through the tax would be required by state law to be spent on public safety," she said.