My View: Boone County Board breaks promise to taxpayers with sales tax vote - Opinion - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

by Cathy Ward
Boone County Board

Posted Mar. 28, 2015 at 2:11 PM

BELVIDERE — The Boone County Board, with strong encouragement from Chairman Bob Walberg, voted last week to extend Public Safety Sales tax essentially forever, totally disregarding the promise made to taxpayers to end the tax in 2018 when the jail bonds will be completely paid.

The board voted 8-4 to extend the tax forever despite the fact that the proposal to extend the tax was not even on the agenda to be discussed.

The motion was made by board vice chair Paul Larson and quickly seconded by new board member Sherry Giesckie. Board members voting to ignore the promise were Jeff Carlisle, Denny Ellingson, Sherry Giesckie, Karl Johnson, Paul Larson, Ray Larson, Craig Schutz, and Walberg.

Those opposed were Sherry Branson, Ken Freeman, Brad Stark and Ward.

When the tax was approved by voters in 1999, the supporters promised voters, “The proposed one-half percent increase is projected to generate enough additional revenue to finance bond payments only. Other costs related to the jail expansion will be financed by county general fund operating funds, and/or grants. The statue allows the county to sunset (end) the tax when the bonds are paid. ” (2018)

Those who campaigned for the new jail, including former Sheriff Duane Wirth, always told me that was the promise was definitely made.

Debate over the use of public safety sales tax has gone on for years, especially when finances started to get tight in the recession. Some board members always objected, but it was expected by most of us that the tax would end as promised in 2018. Since 2004, more than $6 million has been siphoned off for other general fund expenses. Therefore, the total bill for the jail could  have been paid years ago.

Last February, Larson started his campaign to ignore the wishes of the voters and asked that the 2018 date be eliminated. Walberg had supported this same plan for years, but the majority of board members, even though we, at times, agreed that safety needs should be financed and agreed to pay them, always stated emphatically that the tax must end in 2018 as promised.

When questioned about voting last week on an important issue that was not on the agenda for the public to review, Walberg said the matter could be included with a related public safety sales tax issue.

I totally disagree. This is an important public trust issue — this is an important Open Meetings Act issue. This is an issue of being transparent.

Walberg and Larson have always argued that the county needs the money. If we don't use this source of revenue, they say, cuts will have to be in county government.

So be it.

I believe we should let our taxpayers decide in a referendum to extend the tax. They should decide if we should make cuts or increase taxes. I trust our taxpayers. Even in the recession, they agreed to a property tax three years ago to help our veterans and another property tax last year to help our animals with a new shelter.

It's no wonder with Walberg's attitude that the taxpayers don't trust government.

It's kind of interesting that Walberg recently wanted a slice of any revenue coming from a proposed gambling casino in Rockford because he seemed sure Boone County people would go.

Following that same logic since half the people in Boone Countv reside in Belvidere, half of the millions collected from the public safety sales tax should be repaid to the city of Belvidere because it can be assumed that about half of the crime in the county happens in the city.

Only seems fair with Walberg's logic.

Cathy Ward is a member of the Boone County Board.

My View: Boone County Board breaks promise to taxpayers with sales tax vote - Opinion - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL