Voters in Kankakee County can get their questions answered about the upcoming sales tax referendum that appears on the November ballot. County officials have scheduled a handful of public forums to present facts about the need for the sales tax and how that money would be used.

Public forums will be held in Kankakee, Herscher, Aroma Park and Bourbonnais during the next two weeks.
The meetings will be hosted by county board members, department heads and members of the county's law enforcement community.

The referenda question proposes to increase Kankakee County's sales tax from 6.25 cents per dollar to 7.25 cents...with intent to channel that revenue for public safety. Officials estimate a successful vote would generate an estimated $7.7 million dollars.

The matter requires public approval. A failed vote would push the county officials back to earlier talk of eliminating 20 county sheriff deputies and 20 corrections officers.

Revenues would also be used to make improvements at the courthouse.

94.1 WGFA