County voters to decide on sales tax

The Hancock County board approved placing a referendum on the April 17 nonpartisan election ballot, seeking an increase in the county's sales tax by one-half of a percent.

The tax would be designated for “public safety purposes” including crime prevention, detention, fire fighting, police, medical, ambulance or other emergency purposes.

The half cent (or one-half of one percent) is estimated to generate about $120,000. If the issue is passed by voters, it would be certified by the county clerk to the Illinois Department of Revenue before Oct. 1, 2007, and would go into effect as of Jan. 1, 2008.

“The Finance Committee discussed this possibility during budget planning sessions last fall,” explained county board president, David Walker.

“I can see both sides of this,” said board member, Randy White during the discussion. “It is going to hurt businesses at the edge of the county most, like Hamilton. On the other hand, the tax would take care of some major police expenses like vehicles.”

“If we do put this on the ballot, it is not us 15 who are raising taxes. It is the taxpayers who will say if we do it or not,” Regan Ramsey noted.

“Nobody likes more taxes, but the county is hurting. This lets the people decide,” said Debbie Limkemann.

“If the county is so low on funds, we need to be looking at ways to cut spending, not raising taxes,” said Bill Crabill.

The vote to authorize the referendum passed by one vote, 8 to 7, with “yes” votes from Ramsey, Limkemann, Walker, White, Robert Mapes, Kenneth Nudd, Emmett Postle and Bill Rogers. “No” votes were cast by Crabill, Delbert Kreps, Tom Scheetz, Steve Finney, Marlin Long, Joe Stevenson and Steve Bolton.

If passed, the tax is not imposed on sales of food that is not consumed where it is sold (exceptions being alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and food that is prepared for immediate consumption). It would not apply to prescription and non-prescription medicines, drugs or insulin, or some medical appliances and testing supplies such as those used by diabetics.

During the meeting, county clerk Kerry Asbridge informed the board that the upcoming April 17 election is nonpartisan. A referendum at that election would not create any added cost to the county. There is no election in the fall of 2007. The next election is the presidential primary in March of 2008.

“There would be substantial cost to creating a non-partisan ballot style in that election, and the revenue from it, if passed, would not come to the county until July 1 of 2008,” Asbridge said.

After the meeting Asbridge said that he believed the 8 to 7 vote reflected the complexity of the issue and the mixed feelings of the board.

“Every major topic at that meeting (Jan. 16) came back to criminal justice - the mandates to pay the expense of juvenile detention, expansion of the probation department, and the Ramsey retrial. Fifty-seven percent of the budget goes to criminal justice, and many of the costs cannot be controlled by the county board or the office holders,” he said.

In other business, the board presented a plaque to Vicki Carriger, administrator of the Hancock County Sheltered Care Home, acknowledging her 26 years of service.

Randy White reported on the progress of the law being introduced into the Illinois legislature to address the cost of juvenile detention. White has sent a letter to each county and is making a presentation in Springfield on Jan. 26.

Gary Eddington, regional superintendent of schools, reported that the probation department is in need of more space and wants to use the space that currently houses the regional education office.

Eddington explained the services offered out of the Hancock County education office, and noted that counties are responsible for providing an office and staff, according to school code. He asked for suggestions of other office space, preferably still centrally located in Carthage.

The board approved a resolution opposing the removal of the office from the courthouse.

County auditors Jeff McPherson and Roy Riddle explained the final FY 2005 audit, which had included the transition to an accrual accounting method. They recommended the county consider a self-funded unemployment insurance rather than paying unemployment tax, and a centralized payroll system.

The board approved a resolution opposing the buyout of Delta and Pineland seed companies by Monsanto, expressing concern for continued agriculture monopolies.

They approved a variance for Donald Kerr to construct a grain storage bin on his land in the flood plain south of Warsaw.

Steve Bolton was appointed as the board's representative to the area Resource Conservation and Development board.