An overflow crowd at the City Hall in Watseka last evening.....they were welcomed by the city leaders to offer input on talk about a sales tax increase.

If voted on, the tax would be bumped up from .75% to an even 2%. That’s the city’s share of the sales tax revenues. Watseka’s rate would be hiked from 7.25 % to 8.5%.

Several citizens and business owners commented on any proposal to hike the tax. Most agree, the revenues are needed but no one’s ever in favor of another tax.

Some questioned if the hike was too much; maybe something less and an incremental increase ?

There were also comparisons to neighboring communities sales tax rates and those in surrounding counties.
Alderman Mark Garfield says there’s options for increasing revenue --- INCLUDING USING SERVICE FEES ON UTILITIES, EVEN SELLING THE CITY WATER SYSTEM, OR ELIMINATING OR REDUCING OTHER CITY SERVICES.

Garfield believes the sales tax is fair --- IT AFFECTS PEOPLE COMING TO WATSEKA AND NOT JUST THE LOCALS. (It’s like the public safety tax that the county officials took awhile to accept --- IMPOSE A TAX ON PEOPLE OTHER THAN THE LOCAL CITIZENS).

Garfield says this meeting opens the door for discussion....
“I believe it’s a good option – it catches those people coming to town and not just taxing local citizens,” Garfield told 94.1 WGFA News.

“Even if it’s not at the rate I’m suggesting, it’s still a step in the right direction to generate some new revenues, in my opinion.”

There’s also the option of looking to reduce the property tax too. Mayor John Allhands that could happen after about a year once the sales tax is collected and we review where the city sits with revenue.

The discussion will be re-visited again. No decisions were made.

Garffield and the mayor appreciated the audience participation.

94.1 WGFA