Skokie board directs counsel to draft amusement‑surcharge amendment adding streaming fee

Mayor Ann Tennis and finance staff moved forward a proposal to amend Skokie’s amusement surcharge to increase the rate and expand the tax base to include streaming services.

Director of Finance Julian Prendy told the board the village’s current amusement tax rate is 2% and that a regional survey shows an average above 5%. Prendy said adding a streaming surcharge based on a $60 average household subscription would amount to roughly $3 per month per household and that the streaming component could yield about $1,070,000 for fiscal 2027. He described implementation logistics and said an effective date of August 1 was likely, with a target operational timeline of July 1 for vendor confirmation.

Trustees asked about equity and collection mechanics. Trustee Gail Schechter said she considered equity in the selection of revenue sources and emphasized that the board had identified where the revenue would be used; she called the fee “elective” spending that is less regressive than some taxes. Other trustees pressed staff on compliance and penalties; Prendy said delinquency penalties in the village code would apply but there is no new, tax‑specific penalty being proposed. Residents who spoke during the public comment period urged ongoing monitoring and backup plans in case households reduce subscriptions.

At the meeting’s conclusion, Trustee Liz Levy moved and Trustee Gail Schechter seconded a motion to direct corporation counsel to draft the necessary ordinances to increase the amusement surcharge and add a streaming component. The motion passed by roll call. The ordinance will return for second reading and consideration for adoption on June 1, 2026.

The board’s action does not itself change the tax rate; it directs staff and counsel to prepare ordinance language for future readings and formal adoption.