URBANA – Champaign County Democrats seem poised to authorize – somewhat reluctantly – the 1 percent school sales tax that county voters approved April 7.

The sales tax for planning, land acquisition, construction and reconstruction of school facilities in the county will go into effect Jan. 1. It will apply to all purchases except automobiles, boats and farm equipment, plus food, drugs and certain medical equipment.

Ten of the 15 Democrats on the county board attended a caucus Tuesday evening and indicated they would support the measure, which will come up for a full board vote at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Brookens Administrative Center, 1776 E. Washington St., U.

And a key county board Republican, Alan Nudo of Champaign said separately Tuesday that he is satisfied that school districts in the county are fully committed to providing some property tax relief with the sales tax increase. Nudo and some other board members had expressed concern that school districts were backing away from that promise.

But he said he and county board chairman C. Pius Weibel met last week with Jane Quinlan, the Champaign-Ford regional superintendent of schools, who had received commitments in writing that the school districts that already have construction bonds out, including Champaign, Urbana and most others, will use the sales tax revenue to pay off those outstanding bonds in order to reduce property taxes.

"They all have basically recommitted to what they promised before the April vote," Nudo said. "I'm willing to sign off now."

He added that he was disappointed that legislation that would have placed further restrictions on the school sales tax could not be enacted in the Legislature this spring. But he said he hopes it can be approved next year so it could apply to any other counties that enact the tax. He wants a "sunset" clause so that the tax expires after 20 years, unless extended by voters, and also wants a mandate that school districts provide property tax relief, when applicable.

Meanwhile, a number of county board Democrats voiced concern about the sales tax, which was approved by voters April 7, 53 percent to 47 percent.

Board member Al Kurtz of Champaign suggested that the county board needed "to hold these boards to their promise that they will use this money for construction and other items" and nothing more. "Once we pass this at 1 percent, we have no control over this," he said, fretting.

Board member Tom Betz of Urbana noted that the tax passed in April with just 25,885 people voting on the issue (13,717 of whom voted yes), which was fewer than the 38,541 who had voted no on the same question last November when it was narrowly defeated.

"Once we pass this levy at 1 percent, we lose all authority over this," Betz said. "From now on, it's up to the voters (to make sure school districts provide tax relief). We as a board can't control this."

Board member Michael Richards of Champaign called the sales tax "very regressive" and added, "I personally voted against this on the ballot. But I will vote to put this forward. Our hands are tied."

Also, the board Democrats indicated they will have no problem approving a contract with Debra Busey to become the county's single administrator, beginning this fall, at a salary of $103,155. After Dec. 1, her salary will increase to $125,000 a year. Busey will become the single administrator when her longtime co-administrator, Denny Inman, retires.

"I think we're getting a bargain and then some," Betz said.