Illinois school districts seek sales tax dollars

(The Center Square) – Illinoisans already face a high tax burden and now DeKalb County school districts are asking voters to raise sales taxes for schools.

Sales taxes would go up 1% in DeKalb County if voters approve the County School Facility Occupation Tax.

DeKalb County Board Vice Chairman John Frieders told The Center Square that the school districts in DeKalb County are struggling financially.

“As you probably well know, there is a multitude of financial issues in almost all school districts in the state of Illinois,” Frieders said.

Frieders said he thinks the school boards and superintendents have been good stewards of taxpayer funds.

“I think that’s a convenient thing to say that they can always save money, but let’s be honest, there’s only so far you can squeeze a dollar,” Frieders said.

Frieders added that he once served on a school board. He said raising the sales tax is a way to fund schools without raising property taxes.

“Property taxes, as you know, are just very hard on landowners, whether it be farmland owners or people who own their own houses and apartment buildings and such. They’re just a major issue,” Frieders said.

Illinois is regularly listed by the Tax Foundation among the highest tax burdens in comparison to other states. On average, Illinois has the second highest property tax in the country, according to the Tax Foundation. The Tax Foundation also finds Illinois among the more expensive state and local tax burdens.

The County School Facility Occupation Tax would raise sales taxes but would not lower property taxes. The current maximum sales tax rate in DeKalb County is 8.25%.

A majority of school boards in DeKalb County approved the County Facility Occupation Tax to place it on the ballot this fall.

The state allows counties to impose the tax at a rate of 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% or 1%. School districts in DeKalb are seeking to impose the maximum tax increase of 1%.

Two DeKalb County Community Unit 428 School District members said they voted in favor of the tax hike proposal to give taxpayers the right to vote on the issue.

The measure states that all funds would be used exclusively for school facility purposes, school resource officers and mental health professionals.

Election Day is Nov. 5.