Important Information Regarding the 1 Percent Sales Tax Question on the Ballot in Ogle County
Dear Meridian Faculty, Staff, and Community Members,
I hope this message finds you well. There is a question on the March 19th ballot that may have a large impact on both our communities and our schools so I am reaching out to provide as much relevant information as possible. While there is a lot of data below, there will be two virtual town halls in the coming weeks to help answer any questions as well.
FACULTY and STAFF – Zoom town-hall on February 12th at 245 PM
COMMUNITY – Facebook Live town-hall on February 15th at 430 PM
Pending demand – more town-halls will be added
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO KNOW RE: MARCH 19th BALLOT QUESTION
Earlier this school-year Boards of Education in Ogle County which represent over 50 percent of the student population of Ogle County voted to put this question on the ballot.
Background:
The 1 percent sales tax for schools is an initiative aimed at generating additional revenue to support education within our community. This tax, if approved, will add 1 percent of sales tax on goods sold in Ogle County (with some exceptions including groceries).
If the measure were to pass, the collected funds are distributed on a per pupil basis to ALL schools in the county.
Use of Funds:
The revenue generated from this sales tax will be allocated to address critical areas within our educational system. Meridian would be able to use this money (within the legal parameters) solely based on local decision-making and is not tied to any county wide initiatives.
These funds could be used for facilities renovations, repairs, and upgrades, investments in infrastructure projects, payment for (potentially additional) school resource officers, and offsetting expenses for mental health support for our students.
Additionally, we could use the funds to offset current taxes, thereby decreasing the burden on our local constituents. The money cannot be used for the salaries and benefits of employees who are not directly serving the mental health needs of our students.
Duration of the Tax:
The proposed 1 percent sales tax does not have a sunset clause or expiration date. This means that if approved, the tax will continue indefinitely, providing a consistent source of revenue for our schools.
Impact on Consumers and Businesses:
The sales tax is a percentage added to the final purchase price of taxable goods and services. This tax already exists in many Illinois counties, including Lee County. Additionally, with this tax the sales tax of Ogle County would still be lower than that of Winnebago County. The amount will be collected by businesses and remitted to the state, with the allocated portion for schools benefitting our local educational institutions. There should be no additional paperwork for consumers and local businesses. Importantly, there is no available data indicating that passing this tax adversely affects sales in a given county.
Supplementary Information:
This tax is intended to supplement existing funding sources for schools, ensuring that our educational institutions have the necessary resources to provide a high-quality education and facility infrastructure to best serve our students. It is important to note that certain goods and services, such as groceries, prescriptions, vehicles, farm equipment, and items not currently taxed, will not be subject to the additional 1 percent sales tax.
We understand the importance of being well-informed before making decisions that impact our community. If you have further questions or require additional information, please don't hesitate to reach out to the school district office or to my cell (815-980-0310).
We are here to provide transparency and ensure that everyone in our community is well-informed about this initiative. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter and I am happy to answer additional questions you may have.
Reminder of Key Dates:
FACULTY and STAFF – Zoom town-hall on February 12th at 245 PM
COMMUNITY – Facebook Live town-hall on February 15th at 430 PM
Thank you,
PJ Caposey