By Adam Studzinski
NORMAL – The Normal Town Council plans to vote Tuesday night on a one percent sales tax increase.
If approved, the increase would take effect at the beginning of 2016.
“We are proposing to earmark 25 percent of that revenue for local, or county wide, mental health services and facilities,” City Manager Mark Peterson said.
The increase would mean $6.1 million of additional revenue in Normal. However, it would only take effect if Bloomington also votes to approve the same measure. The extra revenue in Bloomington would equate to roughly $9 million.
“Assuming that all happens, then the two cities would sit down with the county and negotiate a mutli-agency intergovernmental agreement that would specifically innumerate how those dollars are going to be used,” Peterson said.
Peterson explained other revenue isn’t being officially designated at this time, but they have some ideas.
“Those are primarily Connect Transit; providing additional local funding to our local transit system so they can leverage that and get substantially more state and federal money,” said Peterson. “The other would fall under the general heading of business development or economic development.”
A new multi-sport athletic facility could also see some funding.
Both Bloomington and Normal would also be able to keep a portion of the extra revenue. Peterson said Normal would likely use that money for various infrastructure projects.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].
