Champaign County Board approves three ballot questions on taxes and county services
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Summary
The Board approved three resolutions to submit public questions to electors: a sales tax increase (Res. 2025-339), a property tax rate question (Res. 2025-340), and a revised question on whether voters prefer raising taxes or cutting services (Res. 2025-341, amended). Board members debated wording and ordering before adopting the amended third question.
The Champaign County Board moved on Dec. 18 to place three related questions on the ballot for county electors, approving resolutions to ask voters about tax increases and county services.
Finance Chair Ellie presented Resolution 2025-339 to submit a sales tax increase question; the board approved the recommendation by voice vote. The board then approved Resolution 2025-340 to submit a property tax‑rate question by voice vote.
The meeting’s lengthiest debate centered on Resolution 2025-341, a public question about reducing county services. Board member JJ proposed changing the question and moving it to the top of the series so voters would first choose whether to raise taxes or accept cuts to personnel and services. JJ argued the amendment would force voters to choose between paying more or accepting reduced services and provide clearer guidance to the board. Legal counsel Andrew Beckett (referenced on the record) reviewed the proposed wording and, according to board members, found it permissible. Colleagues expressed concerns that specific enumerations of services could emotionally skew voters’ responses; others said the edited question gives the board more actionable guidance.
After parliamentary discussion and secondary amendments, JJ’s proposed wording and ordering for question three passed. The three resolutions (2025-339, 2025-340, and the amended 2025-341) were approved by voice vote; the transcript records the motions and adopted language but does not include a roll‑call tally for the votes in the meeting minutes.
Board members noted the implications are substantive: language and ordering on the ballot can shape what guidance the electorate gives the board about addressing the county’s general‑fund structural deficit. The change to question three was specifically intended to create a direct choice for voters between raising taxes or cutting services.
