Lombard finance committee backs broader use for 1% non‑home real sales tax to fund public safety buildings

The Village of Lombard finance committee voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of Trustees approve a proposed ordinance to suspend the current restricted 1% non‑home real sales tax and adopt a broader-use 1% non‑home real sales tax, a committee member said at the board meeting on Feb. 6.

The change would not increase the current sales tax rate, the committee member said, and would allow the village to apply revenue from the non‑home real sales tax to fund new public safety buildings and reduce future debt payments. “This change does not increase the current sales tax and will allow us to use the non home real sales tax to fund new public safety buildings and reduce future debt payments,” the finance committee member said.

The committee also reviewed funding options for public safety facilities and discussed strategies to secure debt service by 2027, the committee member said. The proposed ordinance is scheduled to be presented to the Board of Trustees at its Feb. 20 meeting; the board did not vote on the ordinance on Feb. 6.

The recommendation came during the committee report portion of the Feb. 6 meeting. Board members did not debate the ordinance in detail at that session; the finance committee will bring the formal ordinance to the board for first reading on Feb. 20, according to the committee member.

Next steps: the ordinance will be introduced to the full Board of Trustees on Feb. 20, where trustees may debate, amend or vote on the measure.