Champaign County government officials are continuing to spend taxpayer dollars touting the benefits of taxpayer approval of a proposed quarter-cent sales-tax increase.
Two weeks ago, the taxpayers’ tab was $3,400 in public spending. But the rate of spending since then on radio advertisements and billboards has increased dramatically: It’s now up to $34,000, with more than a month to go before the Nov. 5 election.
Although Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz has said the spending complies with state law because it is informational, not advocacy, there has been some pushback.
Mahomet resident John Bambenek, who likes to challenge institutional power, has complained that the political ads represent a misuse of public funds and said he’ll file a complaint with the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Writing to Champaign County Executive Steve Summers, whose office oversees the spending, Bambanek said, “These (advertisements) don’t represent factual information; they are a subtle form of advocacy of some theoretical benefits (that you and I both know you won’t follow through on). Factual information is about the question ... what the increase is, what it will mean to hard-working families’ grocery bills, etc. Your (advertisements) go beyond that” in ways that are prohibited.
Bambanek said Summers did not respond to his letter. Citing the pressures of time, Summers also has not responded to multiple inquiries about the issue from The News-Gazette.
Champaign County elected officials, with just a few exceptions, enthusiastically support passage of the sales-tax increase, which estimates say would generate an additional $7 million a year.
Proponents contend the new revenue would be used exclusively for public safety. That claim, too, has been challenged, because tax dollars can easily be reallocated to other purposes.
But as the election approaches, a key question is whether it’s appropriate, not just legal, for elected officials to use tax dollars to advertise for tax increases.
Democratic county board member Stephanie Fortado, chair of the finance committee and a supporter of the tax increase, answers that question with an enthusiastic yes.
“We should be letting the public know what’s going on,” Fortado said at last week’s board meeting.
She also suggested similar expenditures be made regarding a board-backed proposal to eliminate the office of the independent county auditor.
But Republican board member Jeff Wilson said the taxpayer-funded ads have left “distaste in the mouths” of some of his constituents.
“I think the county looks best when it doesn’t try to operate in grey areas. ... I think it makes the county administration look duplicitous. I think what people want is transparency,” said Wilson, who opposes the sales-tax increase.
Although Bambenek pledged a formal challenge to the spending with the Illinois State Board of Elections, it’s hard to imagine officials there taking any formal action.
Whether advertising language represents general information or advocacy is often a matter of opinion.
A spokesman for the board said advertising like this generally crosses the line when it includes an admonition to support or vote for a particular proposition. Anything short of that passes legal muster.
The county board’s website carries a sales-tax ad that informs voters the cost is “25 cents for every $100 spent in Champaign County” and that the money generated can be used for the sheriff, state’s attorney, public defender and veterans’ assistance.
The website also lists costs the county faces and explains why county officials want the new revenues.
“You don’t want to balance your household budget off of money set aside for other expenses or count on one-time savings to keep you afloat month after month. The county doesn’t want to do that either,” the county website states.
Voters have previously approved a quarter-cent increase for public safety in Champaign County. The separate public-safety sales-tax fund currently holds $8.5 million.
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