Sales tax new option for schools

School districts now have a shot at asking voters to approve a sales tax increase as a way to help pay for construction-related expenses in all but one Illinois county.

Under a state law that became effective in October, 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. A local county board also can put the school construction sales tax to a vote.

Cook County was excluded from the law, which was detailed for some Grayslake High School District 127 school board members Thursday night.

Deanna Sullivan, director of governmental relations for the Illinois Association of School Boards, said the countywide sales tax hike cannot exceed one percentage point. She said the school construction tax must be in quarter percentage-point increments.

Sullivan said school districts statewide have indicated strong interest in the tax since legislators in the state House and Senate overrode Gov. Rod Blagojevich's veto of the measure in early October. She said the sales tax would be a good way to help fund new buildings, renovations, architects, land acquisition and other construction-related costs.

"I think when you're talking about sales tax, in most communities, you're spreading it among a much larger population," Sullivan said.

At a meeting Thursday night, Grayslake High School board members addressed the potential for the sales tax during an informal facilities and finance committee meeting. The three-member panel agreed it didn't support pursuing sales tax revenue, in part because no construction projects are on the horizon.

Regional school superintendents would distribute money from a special tax fund. The tax proceeds would be shipped to districts based on student enrollment, meaning more children in a school system would equal more cash.

If a school district's slice of the pie isn't enough to cover a construction project, said Sullivan, a local property tax increase referendum could be sought to pay for the balance.

Blagojevich provided a rationale for his unsuccessful veto in a memo to legislators in August.

"I recognize and appreciate the hard work of all the sponsors in passing this legislation," wrote Blagojevich, adding that he shares their support for school construction funding. "However," he wrote, "such projects should be funded through a statewide capital plan, not a sales tax increase."