New Rolling Meadows natural gas tax approved

Rolling Meadows aldermen this week officially approved a new natural gas tax that would eventually replace city vehicle stickers.

The 4-2 second reading vote Tuesday - with Aldermen John D'Astice and Mike Cannon casting "no" votes - follows a 4-3 first reading tally earlier this month. Tim Veenbaas also voted against it at that time.

The new tax, expected to cost the owner of a 1,300-square-foot house $38 a year, could appear on bills as soon as September. The vehicle sticker program formally ends December 31, 2018. But aldermen also approved an amendment - suggested by D'Astice - that officials not enforce the city sticker tax once gas tax collections begin.