Springfield City Council votes to hike sales tax
After several hours of debate, the city council voted 6-3 to raise the sales tax from 8 percent to 8.5 percent to repay an $86.6 million, 15-year bond issue to finance the three-year infrastructure program.
Kristina Rasmussen
Executive Vice President
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Residents of Springfield will now pay a higher sales tax rate thanks to a city council vote on April 16. From the State Journal-Register:
After several hours of debate, the city council voted 6-3 to raise the sales tax from 8 percent to 8.5 percent to repay an $86.6 million, 15-year bond issue to finance the three-year infrastructure program.
Voting in favor: Ward 2 Ald. Gail Simpson, Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner, Ward 5 Ald. Sam Cahnman, Ward 6 Ald. Cory Jobe, Ward 8 Ald. Kris Theilen and Ward 10 Ald. Tim Griffin.
Voting against: Ward 1 Ald. Frank Edwards, Ward 4 Ald. Frank Lesko and Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin.
Ward 9 Ald. Steve Dove was absent.
The newly approved tax grab is estimated to take $9 million out of taxpayers pockets each and every year. Well be forking over more for the privilege of buying basic household items and there are too many families that dont have any extra wiggle room in their budgets to pay for more government spending.
The council ignored the will of the people, who voted down a county sales tax increase at the ballot box just a few short years ago, with more than 55 percent of voters saying no.
Our local property taxes are high (according to the Tax Foundation, Sangamon County ranked 124th in the nation in 2010 for property taxes as a percentage of median home value). Our income taxes are higher than before and are at risk of going even higher (thank you, progressive tax). Now our sales tax is creeping up, up, up. When will it stop?
If you’re interested in meeting up with other folks who feel taxed enough already, join the Springfield Tea Party for a rally on Saturday, May 4. Will I see you at noon at the Statehouse?