Sales tax might earn county $550 per student

A local school official says that a new sales tax could generate about $550 per student -- which would translate into millions of dollars a year for construction projects -- if voters give it the go-ahead.

Potential revenue estimates have emerged as Lake County school finance leaders continue to study the idea of seeking a sales tax increase that, under a new state law, must be pursued on a countywide level. School boards representing at least 51 percent of the student population of a county are allowed to pass resolutions to get the sales tax question on the ballot. Voters get the final say.

Local county boards also can put the school construction tax to a vote. Cook is the only county in Illinois excluded from the law.

Robert Leonard, associate superintendent at Gurnee-based Woodland Elementary District 50, is among the Lake County officials who have been studying the potential for a sales tax boost.

Leonard said estimates show a 1 percentage point sales tax increase -- the largest amount permissible --would produce a per-student income of $550 yearly. That means Woodland, with an enrollment of roughly 7,000, would get $3.85 million.

School districts need to look at other funding sources for construction projects, said Leonard, because state grants have been dry since 2001.

"I think there is a great need for funding for facility maintenance throughout Illinois," he said.

Williamson County in southern Illinois was the first to place such a measure on the ballot last week. Voters gave a thumbs-up to a 1 percentage-point sales tax hike on general merchandise purchases, expected to generate $7.5 million in extra revenue annually for five school districts.

Barry Bolek, assistant superintendent for finance at Highland Park-Deerfield High School District 113, also has been exploring the merits of the sales tax. He said Lake County school finance officials will continue to gather data and generate discussion with elected boards.

"The positive vote by Williamson County is another variable that we will need to gather data on for this topic," Bolek said.

Voters would see the sales tax question if enough Lake County schools wants it on the ballot at the next opportunity in November. Leonard said it would take a minimum of 11 of the county's largest 45 districts to get it on the ballot.

Money from the sales tax would help pay for renovations, new buildings, architects, land acquisition and other construction-related costs. Leonard said the cash also could go toward paying down debt from previous construction projects.

All county schools would be eligible for the extra money if the sales tax were approved.

Bolek said he hopes to get a sense of where Lake County schools wants to head with the idea in a month or so.