Lake County GOP Launches Opposition To School Sales Tax Referendum

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Lake County Republican Central Committee has launched a campaign opposing a Nov. 3 referendum, which asks voters to approve a 1 percent countywide sales tax to fund school facility improvements and other eligible expenses.

• Lake County Voters To Decide On 1% School Sales Tax

The group argues Lake County residents already face high taxes and rising costs and says school districts should focus on controlling spending rather than seeking another source of tax revenue, the Daily Herald is reporting. If approved, revenue from the tax could be used for school construction and facility improvements as well as school resource officers and mental health professionals, while groceries, vehicles, services and medications would be exempt from the tax.

Twenty-three Lake County school districts representing a majority of the county’s student population approved resolutions to place the question on the ballot, according to the article. Supporters say the sales tax would provide an alternative to relying on property taxes for school building expenses and would capture revenue from visitors making purchases in Lake County.

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