Democrat Larry Walsh Raises Will County Gas Taxes

JOLIET, IL — In July, Gov. J.B. Pritzker approved a 19-cent per gallon gasoline tax on Illinois motorists. On Thursday, Will County's Board voted to pass an additional 4-cent per gallon tax on motorists buying fuel in Will County. Retiring Will County Executive Larry Walsh cast the tie-breaking vote to make sure the fuel tax was passed, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The new Will County gasoline tax will take effect in February, the Tribune reported. The gasoline tax was passed along party lines. Republican members on the county board were against the gas tax increase while the board's Democrats were responsible for its passage.

However, one Democrat, Rachel Ventura, a Joliet resident who is challenging incumbent U.S. Congressman Bill Foster of Naperville in March's political primary, voted against the fuel tax increase, the Tribune article noted.

Will County residents may face yet another gasoline tax in addition to the new 4-cent tax hike imposed by Walsh and the 19-cent per gallon hike enacted by Pritzker.

Joliet's City Council will convene a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 26 to adopt its 2020 city budget. The budget put forth by interim city manager Steve Jones calls for an additional 3-cent per gallon gasoline tax in Joliet.

The council did not pass its budget at this week's meeting because the vote ended in a 4-4 tie. Councilwoman Bettye Gavin, who lives in the Forest Park area, was absent.

Gavin is now in the public spotlight because her vote should determine whether the residents of Joliet get socked with several new tax and fee increases including a controversial $10.5 million interior renovation to the downtown library which is a magnet for the city's homeless population, day and night.

Joliet's proposed gas tax increase was the idea of newly elected councilwoman Sherri Reardon.

On Friday, Joliet City Councilman Larry Hug told Patch that between the state of Illinois, Will County and now the city of Joliet, somebody buying gas in the Joliet area can expect to pay an additional $270 next year to fill up a vehicle with 20 gallons of gas per week, provided that the city of Joliet adopts an additional 3-cent per gallon tax. The city's current tax is 1 cents.

"And if you're talking about a household with two cars, you could double that," Hug said. "Those with two cars are now looking at $540 more in fuel taxes."

Hug is running as a Democrat for the Illinois Senate Senate being vacated by Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant because she is running for county executive. Hug told Patch that he can't understand why so many Joliet-area politicians keep raising taxes on their constituents.

"Does anybody understand the word 'No'" Hug asked. "Whether it's $8 a year, $80 a year or $800, it's just a fact that somebody says, 'Let's raise a tax,' and it doesn't seem like there's anybody saying no anymore."

Next week, Hug's colleague on the city council, Bettye Gavin, will be in the spotlight.

She may determine whether Joliet residents get socked with even higher gas taxes in 2020.

"I hope she votes no, she's the only vote that matters," Hug said Friday. "We know that four of the members of the Joliet City Council are in favor of increasing all the taxes and four are against. The only one who has not voted is Councilwoman Gavin."