Peoria County Voters will have two additional referenda on the November General Election Ballot. The Peoria County Board overwhelmingly approved placing the measures on the ballot last night.
Voters will be asked one advisory question that would give the board the authority to increase property taxes by 1.5-cents per $100 assessed valuation. Approval of the advisory referendum would mean up to $4.22 more in property taxes for the owner of a $100,000 home. It would provide additional funding for Veterans Assistance and care for those with developmental disabilities.
The other referendum asks voters to approve a county-wide, 1/4-cent retail sales tax. Peoria County Administrator Scott Sorrel says approval of the referendum would make way for necessary road improvement projects.
“We would issue about $35-million in bonds, that would pay for several road projects both inside the City of Peoria and outside the City of Peoria and then the sales tax revenue would pay for the debt service on those bonds,” Sorrel said.
He says about 18 miles of structural overlay would be covered outside of the bonds. He says the county would need to bank about $200,000 a year in Motor Fuel Tax over the 15-year life of the tax to cover the pay-as-you-go work.
Peoria County Board Chairman Andrew Rand says, “While I do wish there was a larger sum of potential to fix the $215-million problem we have, I recognize it is a compromise for many of you. But more importantly, I think it is the best we can do right now is to ask the voters to do this.”
Rand says passing the sales tax referendum will require courage and leadership from board members.
The county-wide 1/4-cent retail sales tax increase would be good for 15 years. Groceries, prescription drugs and titled purchases like cars would be exempt from the tax.
The county administrator says they will be working to educate voters on the referenda, speak with any neighborhood associations and community groups that will have them.