‘Yes’ to Gilberts sales tax

Daily Herald Editorial Board

The roads in Gilberts are just beginning to show their wear, but if they’re not resurfaced soon, they could require reconstruction later — a much more costly result. To help avoid that, village leaders are asking voters for a 1-cent increase in the sales tax.

Until now, the village has relied on special service area taxes to pay for road improvements, whereby people who live in a defined area of town pay for their own streets. That’s costly for small groups of people, a hassle to set up and a difficult way to secure a good price.

A sales tax increase would spread the burden to people who live outside town. Village Administrator Ray Keller says half of retail sales are locally generated; the remainder are paid for by people who use the village’s construction-related business.

The village plans to use the sales tax to buy 20 years of bonds, first to resurface the older streets, then to do the streets in the Timber Trails area.

At a time when finding money to achieve necessary local goals is growing ever more difficult, Gilberts’ plan is a well-reasoned, low-level investment. We recommend a YES vote.