Peoria School District 150 says it wants voters to consider a one-percent sales tax increase on some retail sales. Peoria Public Radio’s Alex Rusciano reports the District says new revenues are needed amid shrinking property tax and state aid funding:
District 150 is expecting a $10 million decrease in general state aid next school year. District 150 also lost nearly four-million-dollars in property tax revenues the last two years. Officials say that means less money for roof repairs, technology upgrades and health-life safety projects. School Board member Rick Cloyd says he supports asking Peoria County voters to consider a one-percent sales tax increase:
“And I am one of the last people in the world to ever vote for a new tax, but we have a responsibility. And I cannot understand how we can do our jobs if we don’t have some other sources of revenue,” Cloyd says.
The District could collect $9 million each year from a sales tax increase for facility upgrades, pay off bonds for building projects, or to help fund a potential stadium at Peoria High School. Other Peoria County school district would need to support the measure to put it on the ballot for next spring. The proposed increase has passed in twelve Illinois counties. Tazewell, Woodford and Marshall Counties are voting on the sales tax increase next month. The School Board also officially dismissed Manual art teacher Amanda Ludwig, who’s facing federal charges for allegedly enticing a minor into having sex.