The Watseka City Council voted (this week) to increase the tax on alcohol sales. The tax is being doubled from 3 to 6 percent….the revenues, according to Mayor John Allhands, targeted toward the payment of police pensions and downtown beautification projects.

Minutes of the Finance, Legal & Audit Committee meeting (June 20) state revenues are expected to jump from $161,000 to an estimated $321,000.

Alder-woman Jenny Musk-DeLahr voted against. She questions ‘why other spending couldn’t be curbed rather than placing more burden on taxpayers ?’ She told Council-members people are already paying increased water bills, Ameren rate hikes, a communication tax on cellphones … in addition to the costs of gas prices, groceries, and other everyday expenses. Musk-DeLahr said “it’s too much on taxpayers.”

Alderman Dennis Cahoe countered saying ‘it’s a voluntary tax, a tax of choice, only imposed on those who choose to buy alcohol.” One doesn’t have to buy alcohol.
Mayor Allhands added, it’s a continuing downtown improvement effort, with hope to attract new business interests.

How your Alderman voted > Yes votes in favor of the Tax: Brandon Barragree (Ward 1), Scott Muench (Ward 1), Dennis Cahoe (Ward 2), Benny Marcier (Ward 3) No Votes: Don Miller (Ward 2), Jenny Musk-DeLahr ( Ward 3), Scott Anderson Ward 4) Absent: Yamai Rohlfs (Ward 4)

The talk of downtown improvements also stirred action by the City Council to repair a wall on Walnut Street. It’s the wall of a business at 128 W. Walnut Street. The Council approved a bid from a business to fix the wall at a cost not to exceed $35,000.

Alder-woman Musk-DeLahr said “it’s wrong” to incur such an expense for a project that’s personal property. She said it’s a cost at the expense of the citizens – for personal property.

The expense was approved on a 5-2 vote. Musk-DeLahr and Scott Anderson voting No. Voting Yes to spend the money:
Barragree, Muench, Cahoe, Miller, Marcier.

94.1 WGFA