Knox County board raises unincorporated video-gaming license fee to $200 per machine

The Knox County Board voted unanimously Dec. 22 to raise the county license fee for video-gaming machines in unincorporated areas from $25 to $200 per machine.

County staff explained the change during the board’s discussion. “Currently the Knox County license for video gaming in the unincorporated areas of Knox County is $25 per machine,” a county staff member stated, and added that “we currently have 33 machines that is licensed through the county clerk's office.” The staff member said the county’s budgeting had assumed $200 per license, producing a projected revenue line of $6,600 versus the prior licensing total of $825 at $25 per machine.

The staff member noted neighboring municipalities’ fees and state limits: “The city of Gellsburg charges $300 per license,” and “the state of Illinois dictates that a non-home rule unit limits our ability and maxes out at $250.” The board’s adopted $200 fee remains below that statutory cap.

Vice Chair Frederick said the resolution was intended to align the county’s fee with the revenue figures used in the approved budget and that staff had previously discussed the increase during budget meetings earlier in the year.

On a roll call the board recorded 14 yes votes to adopt the resolution. Board members also asked staff to prepare a spreadsheet breaking down revenues at each of the six establishments that house county-licensed machines to clarify how much money each business and the county receive.

The resolution takes effect upon implementation by the county clerk’s office; staff indicated any further adjustments would need to respect the state statutory cap for non-home-rule units.