McHenry Co. diverts transportation tax

McHenry County leaders altered plans Tuesday to dedicate funds from a new quarter-percent sales tax hike solely to transportation projects, choosing instead to add public safety initiatives to the mix.

The change, approved overwhelmingly by the McHenry County Board, will allow officials to spend some of the $9.4 million the tax is expected to generate annually on law enforcement measures and related programs.

Proponents said the change is in line with the Illinois General Assembly's intentions when it created the additional tax earlier this year as part of its mass transit bailout. The legislation, officials said, specifically states that the funding could be used for transportation or public safety measures.

"The ability to use these funds for public safety initiatives can also help with our transportation needs," said board member Jim Kennedy, citing programs like a mobile police unit to check truck weights as an example.

Sheriff Keith Nygren asked board members for the change, but said Tuesday he has no immediate plans to request extra funding.

"We wanted it to be in the police so if we do have a proposal they would be able to consider it," Nygren said.

County leaders still expect most of the money brought in by the sales tax to go toward reducing traffic congestion by building new roads and improving existing roads through the county's long-range 2020 Transportation Plan. The plan calls for as much as $1 billion in road work over the next dozen years.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," county board Chairman Ken Koehler said.