Barrington voters to decide if village should enact 1% sales tax
Barrington voters will decide next month if the village should enact a 1 percent local sales tax that elected officials say is needed to provide a steady income source for infrastructure improvements.
Officials say the infrastructure funding no longer can depend on telecommunications tax revenue, which is declining due to residents' shifting from landlines to wireless phones at home. Also, under state law, Barrington no longer collects a local emergency 911 tax that could have been used for projects, Village President Karen Darch said.
Barrington officials also cite a doubling of office and police employee pension contributions since 2012 as a reason the village sales tax is needed.
"We are suffering from some declines in our revenue and increases in expenses that we don't control," Darch said this week during a presentation on the sales tax proposal at The Garlands of Barrington seniors complex.
If the measure is approved by voters Nov. 6, the 1 percent local sales tax will become effective in June, Village Manager Jeff Lawler said. The village estimates the tax would generate about $1 million annually for improvements including streets, parking lots, sidewalks, public facilities and other infrastructure.
It would cost an extra 50 cents for every $50 purchase at a retail store or restaurant if the tax were enacted. Under state law, the local tax doesn't apply to vehicle sales, certain groceries or prescription drugs.
Barrington's telecommunications tax revenue has fallen from $708,177 in 2012 to a projected $420,000 this year, village figures show. The 911 tax that no longer exists produced $176,383 in 2012.
Police and fire employee pension contributions were $582,977 in 2012. The village expects to pay nearly $1.1 million this year.
Trustee Jim Daluga said the village needs the extra revenue because it wants to have a 25-year maintenance cycle for its road program. Trustee Ryan Julian said the village has been careful in its spending.
"But because of that (lack of spending), we are letting a lot of our roads and other infrastructure go because there's no choices," Julian said. "With this (sales tax), we can help get some of those roads and sidewalks back into shape and on a 25-year plan, which is what we'd like to be on."
Barrington's overall sales tax is 9 percent on the Cook County side and 7 percent in Lake County. The overall sales tax would increase by 1 percentage point in each county if voters approve.
Darch told The Garlands crowd that towns near Barrington have a local sales tax.
In Cook County, Palatine, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates and South Barrington have a 1 percent village sales tax and an overall rate of 10 percent. Deer Park in Lake County has a half-percent local sales tax and a 7.5 percent overall rate.