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Resident asks whether proposed 1% tax increase will be restricted to road and infrastructure spending
Summary
A resident asked the board whether a proposed 1% sales tax increase — projected to generate roughly $750,000 annually — would be legally required to be spent only on roads and infrastructure; the village attorney said state law and the ordinance specify allowed uses and that residents may review the ordinance.
At the Aug. 19 meeting a resident asked whether a proposed 1% sales tax increase set to start Jan. 1 would be used strictly for roads and infrastructure and whether that restriction is in writing.
"Can we physically get that in writing that that's gonna go strictly for the road infrastructure?" asked Christopher Keyes, who gave his address for the record.
The village attorney responded that the permitted uses are set by state law and are reflected in the village ordinance. "It is in writing. It's in the state law. That's what we'll use it for. And it's in the ordinance itself if you have seen a copy of the ordinance," the attorney said, adding that staff could show the resident the ordinance if he had not reviewed it.
Keyes cited a figure of about $750,000 that the tax would generate and asked whether the money would be 100% dedicated to roads and related capital items; staff clarified that the revenue would be used for the capital program described in statute and the ordinance, and that eligible items could include sidewalks, curbs or necessary equipment for maintaining roads.
Ending — how to verify: Staff told the resident he could review the ordinance and consult village staff or the village attorney for a copy. The meeting record and ordinance language are the authoritative statements of allowable uses.
