CRAWFORD COUNTY, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV) — A question regarding funding for schools will be on the ballot in Crawford County, Illinois.
Residents will be voting on a proposition in Tuesday’s primary that asks voters to answer yes or no to the following question:
Shall a retailers’ occupation tax and a service occupation tax (commonly referred to as a sales tax) be imposed in the county of Crawford, Illinois, at a rate of 1% to be used exclusively for school facility purposes, school resource officers, and mental health professionals?
It would be one cent on every dollar spent on qualifying purchases and would be put toward all public schools in Crawford County.
What’s not subject to the tax?
- Groceries (food that is unprepared)
- Prescriptions and medications
- Farm equipment, parts, and inputs
- Cars, trucks, ATVs, boats, RVs, and mobile homes
- Services and items that are not currently subject to sales tax
What will the revenue be used for?
- Improved safety and security
- Mental health professionals
- School resource officers
- Up-to-date facilities
- HVAC and energy efficiency
Jeremy Brush is the Regional Superintendent of the Regional Office of Education Number 12 and he said the majority of the counties he serves already have the one percent tax. Brush noted that making this a reality in Crawford County would allow the schools to rely less on property taxes.
“New people coming in, new families coming in, means more money is being spent which then could lead to improved upgrades in all of the schools because every school is going to get a piece of that pie,” Brush said.
Illinois’ primary is on Tuesday, March 19.
