Woodstock, what say you to more taxes?

Woodstock, what say you to more taxes?

What does home rule mean for Woodstock? Sort of what it implies, rule by the local government. Home rule is a designation given to municipalities in Illinois with more than 25,000 people.

Currently, our officials can only take actions within specific authority granted under the Illinois constitution and current population will not allow home rule. Therefore, we need to spend $120,000 on a special census and make home rule legal for Woodstock.

Home rule is used to generate revenue through its broad taxation powers and Woodstock could constitutionally tax anything that is not income, occupations or earnings. New taxes can be passed without a referendum, except a real estate transfer tax that is an added local real estate transfer tax above Illinois law. In the gray area is a food and beverage tax, a tax above the current sales tax, and an amusement tax with very broad application to all places for "amusement."

The city of Wheaton used one of its many home rule powers to institute a Home Rule Sales Tax, otherwise known as a Home Rule Retailers' Occupation Tax and Service Occupation Tax. The tax is imposed on people engaged in the business of selling tangible personal property at retail in the city. In Downers Grove a Municipal Motor Fuel Tax, imposing a $.01/gallon tax upon the retail purchase of motor fuel was passed.

The Tea Party protests began in early 2009 and the letters T-E-A form the saying "Taxed Enough Already." What say you on more taxes?

Robert Meale

Woodstock