Normal looks to extend electric vehicle tax rebate program

Posted on May 4, 2015

Normal has paid back the sales tax on electric vehicle purchases since 2011. (WJBC file photo)

By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – The Normal Town Council will vote Monday night on renewing the town’s electric vehicle sales tax incentive.

City Manager Mark Peterson said the town created the program in 2011 as a way to incentivize buying electric cars.

“We share this with the dealers and so if they sell an electric vehicle they give the buyer a form to fill out, they submit it to the town, and we rebate their sales tax back to them,” said Peterson. “It’s one percent of the purchase price.”

The program recently expired. Peterson said, if approved, the program will be renewed through the end of 2016.

“I think it’s a nice program,” said Peterson. “It’s sort of a way that the town can collectively demonstrate that we really do support electric vehicle technology in addition to putting charging stations all over the community.”

Peterson believed the Twin Cities has more electric vehicles on the road per capita than any other city in the country.

Also Monday night, the council will seat its newly elected members.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…