*Making Cents for Students

Rock Island County Schools

Facility Tax

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLN9yacb4dE

Search for “Illinois County School Facility

Sales Tax”

*Why is this needed now?*Schools in our county are facing serious facility needs:

*Safety and security improvements to buildings designed in a different era require expensive updating to support learning into the future*Energy efficiency upgrades are needed to keep our students in school*Facility improvements to enhance the learning environment*Expanded services through county-wide collaborative efforts

*This initiative addresses facility funding in a manner that shifts expense away from property taxes

Eligible Uses*New facilities*Additions &

renovations*Land acquisition*Ongoing

maintenance*Access & security*Parking lots*Roof repairs*Energy efficiency

Ineligible Uses*Salaries & overhead*Textbooks*Buses*Detached furniture

& equipment*Operating costs

*How can funds be used?

Top Priority Projects: *1) Replacement of .05 Fire Prevention/Health/Life

Safety levy with sales tax fund to fund ongoing projects such as roof replacements, etc.*2) School Safety upgrades, including possibility of

reconfiguring entrances and streamlined access for visitors*3) Classroom upgrades, including classroom

remodels*4) Fine arts and music facility upgrades*5) Athletic facility upgrades

*How will funds be used in our district?

*Improve the learning environment with an emphasis on safety and security*Provide sufficient funding to maintain buildings and increase their future years of service to our community*Ensure our schools can provide the facilities necessary to support a 21st century education*A 21st century education is critical to ensuring that our students have the tools they need to compete in a changing economy

*How do school facilities improve the quality of

education?

*Groceries – unprepared foods*Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications*Titled vehicles – cars, trucks, ATVs, boats, RVs, motor homes*Farm equipment and parts *Farm inputs – feed, seed, fertilizer, etc*Services – doctor’s visits, car wash, salon services, etc*“If it is not currently taxed, it will not be taxed.”

*Retail sales that are NOT taxed

*Visitors may generate 30% of all sales tax revenue*Revenue is estimated to be $11.5 million per year*Our district would receive approximately $511 per Rock Island County student*Since 2009, this initiative would have generated approximately $57.5 million for our schools*For every dollar spent on local construction, it equates to $8 in economic activity in the community

*Did you know?

*Current Reduction:*Board of Educations have pledged to reduce property taxes by

not levying the fire prevention, safety, energy conservation levy. (5 cents per $100 taxable value)*A District can also abate or decrease existing property taxes by

using sales tax funds to pay off outstanding building bonds*Future Dependence:*A District can avoid levying property taxes by using sales tax

funds to pay for facility projects that would have been paid for with property taxes

*How does this affect property taxes?

*Jobs and economic growth

*Projects funded by the sales tax will put local people to work and support local businesses

*Local control of funds

*Each school district will control how it uses the revenue

*How will this benefit our local economy?

*How will this benefit our local economy?

*Community

progress

*Attract families: Schools play an important role in attracting families to settle in our communities*Quality schools: Allows the county to compete with the quality of facilities of Iowa Scott County Schools*Continued regional leadership & growth: This tax has been adopted by our surrounding counties (Mercer, Henry, Warren, Knox & Jo Daviess)

“Shall a retailer’s occupation tax and service occupation tax (commonly referred to as a “Sales Tax”) be imposed in The County of Rock Island, Illinois at a rate of 1% to be used exclusively for school facility purposes?”

*How will it appear on the March 18 ballot?

You do not need a reason, but you do need a current Driver’s License or State ID.

*County Clerk’s Office, 1504-3rd Avenue, Rock Island*Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.*Saturday, March 8 & 15, 8:00 a.m. – Noon

*Western IL University, 3300 River Drive, Moline*Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

*Silvis Council Chambers, 121-11th Street, Silvis*Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

*Moline Public Library, 3210-41st Street, Moline*Monday – Friday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

*Milan Municipal Building, 405 E. 1st Street, Milan*Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

*Early Voting March 3-15

Absentee Voting

Obtain an application for an absentee ballot at:http://www.rockislandcounty.org/AbsenteeVoting/#Procedures Election Day is March

18!