County Gas Tax?

The Peoria Journal Star today has an article speaking to the inclination of some Woodford County Board members to do something with the 1% "Public Safety" sales tax.

We believe there is an embarassment of riches there.

Specifically a trial balloon seems to have gone up from the Board regarding eliminating the County sales tax on fuel purchases at retail. We don't think the short term savings (one or two cents per gallon) justifies such a knee-jerk reaction.


We do, however, find a plan to retire early the bonds which funded the new "Public Safety" complex intriguing.

We've got the tax. We're living with it. Accelerate the repayment of the debt, to the extent the agreement allows, plan for a lean "Public Safety" budget, and ultimately reduce the cost to property tax payers.

Woodford County's future should not include a business unfriendly permanent 1% "Public Safety" sales tax, nor a balancing of the "public safety" budget on the backs of property owners. There must be a middle ground to plow.

Please review this previous post for County revenues.