Business owners differ on public safety tax

SALINE COUNTY - Some business owners in Saline County are afraid an increase in the county sales tax will drive customers to nearby counties.

Other business owners, however, do not.

Voters in Saline County are being asked in the Nov. 6 election to raise the county sales tax by 0.75 percent, to bring in more money for law enforcement and public safety.

If passed it would raise the total Saline County sales tax to 8.75 percent. Of that, 6.25 percent goes to the state of Illinois and Saline County would get 2.50 percent.

Saline County's current sales tax rate is 1.75.

Jonathan Russell, vice president of Russell Oil Co., said he fears that a higher sales tax may result in reduced consumer spending in Saline County.

"I am concerned that shoppers will see a lesser difference between Saline and Williamson County taxes and travel there," Russell said.

"I am also concerned that people from surrounding counties will bypass Saline County or go to neighboring states," he added.

"Our county treasurer, Jeff Murrie, mentioned he was surprised ... that our sales tax revenue was higher than expected. I would like to see this trend continue by people shopping here first."

Williamson County's sales tax rate is a combined 7.25 percent. Marion, however, imposes a city sales tax on top of that, making the full rate in Marion 8.75 percent. By comparison, Gallatin County's combined tax rate is 7.25 percent.

Wes Sherrod, who is both a local business owner and a Saline County board member, voted against putting the sales tax increase onto the November ballot, arguing it increases expenses for business owners but does not address the county's underlying problem - a shrinking population and high property taxes.

Sherrod owns Sherrod's Collision Center in Harrisburg and is a member of the Saline Chamber of Commerce.

He recently was appointed to the county board to fill the vacancy left by the death of Stephen Karns.

He is running for the seat in November.

Sherrod said he has been studying how the public safety tax works, and says having fewer law enforcement officers on the job is a real problem.

"They are not exaggerating this issue. Saline County is broke," Sherrod said. "The question is, what do we do to fix it?

"If I'm a homeowner concerned about my home and my family being able to sleep safely at night, then I'm probably going to vote in favor of it.

"But, knowing that we're in an area where a large number of people receive some kind of state assistance, and that their purchases are not going to be charged sales tax to begin with, it's hard to support a sales tax increase."

He added, however, that there's been a lot of misinformation about the referendum.

"The fact is, all of the (new sales tax) money will be going to the sheriff's office," Sherrod said.

"However, they also are going to be responsible for all bills. None of their bills will be paid out of the general fund (as is currently being done)."

Currently, the sheriff's office is down five deputies. The increased public safety tax would ensure the county can afford to pay to hire replacements, plus additional benefits as required by union contract.

Meanwhile, Rod Wallace, president of Wallace Auto Parts and Services Inc., opposes the tax, saying he fears the Saline County Board will use the new tax money to help bail the county out of its $900,000 budget deficit, instead of adding it to what the county's public safety agencies already get.

"My fear is that the county wants to do the same thing the state of Illinois did when it introduced the lottery," he said. "It was promoted as all the money going to education, and money did go to education, but the state shifted money that was already going to education into other areas."

County board members have said that will not happen.

Russell, who is also running for the county board, said if the increase is passed, he wants to make sure the county keeps the money where it is intended.

A new Saline County board, he said, could hypothetically undo any promises made by the current board.

"I normally oppose tax increases but ultimately it is up to the voters of Saline County," Russell said.

"I think the safety tax is great, in theory, if it will be used for the purpose it was put on the ballot," he added. "We really don't know how future Saline County boards will appropriate this money.

"If it passes and I am elected, I will vote to use it as the citizens intended."

Negligible effect

Jamie Hayes, general manager of Jim Hayes Inc., the county's only new-auto dealership, says he thinks county residents aren't opposed to tax increases if they feel the money is being used wisely.

"I don't think people have a problem paying taxes," said Hayes, also a chamber member.

"The problem is what the money goes to," he added. "As long as it's going to something worthwhile, people can get behind it."

He pointed to community fundraisers in times of tragedy as proof of Saline County residents' altruism.

"This community is pretty quick to help anyone who needs help," he said.

Moreover, Hayes said he thinks a very small sales tax increase will have a negligible effect on whether consumers shop in Saline County.

"People still go to Marion all the time because they have things over there that we don't have here," Hayes said. "Taxes are higher over there, and it has not stopped Marion from growing.

"And I know very few people who follow SIU and go to a game in Carbondale that don't stay and eat in Carbondale.

"No one's going to not eat dinner over there just to save a little on sales tax."

The Saline County Chamber of Commerce said they did not have a comment on the issue.</group><group id="0E7260B9-5339-4CAA-A84F-5B87C0D32156" type="seoLabels"><seo