Champaign board to vote on putting sales tax on ballot

CHAMPAIGN – The Champaign school board will vote Monday night on putting a 1 percent countywide sales tax on the November ballot.

If it approves the resolution, voters will have their say on the issue in November. State law provides that districts representing 51 percent of the county's school enrollment can place the tax question on the ballot. Eleven other districts in the county have already approved such a measure, and Champaign's approval would push the enrollment percentage over the 51 percent.

The Mahomet-Seymour school board will hold a special meeting Wednesday at which it will vote on a similar resolution. The Heritage district is expected to vote on the resolution May 21.

The Champaign school board passed a resolution in April stating its commitment to lowering property taxes by way of the sales tax. If the tax were to pass, the Champaign school district would use some of the nearly $7 million in estimated revenue to pay off the bonds used to build Barkstall and Stratton elementary schools, renovate the Early Childhood Center building, and make improvements at Central High School.

The tax can also be used to pay for new construction, repairs or renovations, make buildings more energy-efficient, or do life-safety work.

The sales tax revenue would be distributed among the school districts in the county in proportion to their enrollments.

A county policy committee discussed the tax earlier this week. County officials will be compelled to put the tax question on the ballot once the number of school districts calling for it reaches 51 percent of the county's enrollment. But if it is approved by voters, the county board must still vote to impose the tax.

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