Voters in Rock Island County will decide this spring whether the sales tax should be raised to pay for public safety.
This week, the county board voted to put the referendum on the ballot in the March primary election.
Chair Richard Brunk says the additional sales tax revenue from the proposed 1% increase would pay for jail and court operations.
And he says if approved it would help reduce the county's reliance on property taxes.
Currently, sales tax in Rock Island County outside of cities is 7.25%. Brunk says the county receives 0.25% of that total, or the minimum required by state law. Rock Island County is one of only two counties in Illinois which collects the minimum.
The 1% sales tax increase would not apply to food, vehicles, and medications.
Three years ago, Rock Island County voters rejected a 0.5% sales tax increase for public safety, and 58% voted, "No."
