Kane County divides up new tax pie

Kane County will use increased sales tax funds for transportation and public safety issues in both unincorporated and incorporated areas.

The county board approved parameters for the expected $12 million to $15 million by a vote of 20-5 on Tuesday.

The money comes from a sales tax increase included in the state's RTA bailout.

The county will spend 82 percent of the money on transportation, 15 percent on public safety and put 3 percent into a contingency fund.

The plan also includes a program to assist towns with transportation projects, which spurred most of the "no" votes.

"We complain to legislators that they don't give us enough money, and when they do, we don't even keep it," said Bonnie Lee Kunkel, an Aurora Democrat. "Let's take care of our own responsibilities."

Board chairman Karen McConnaughay said the money would only go toward projects that had a regional impact.

The plan passed Tuesday states no money can be spent until criteria for how projects are chosen is established.

The new sales tax, with a one-half cent increase in Kane County, is already being collected. A quarter-cent of that will go to the county, with another quarter-cent going to transit agencies.

Kane County should see its first payment in July.

"If we can use this as a carrot, in a sense, for municipalities to work cooperatively with our regional transportation plans, it's money well spent," said Don Wolfe, an Elgin Republican.