Voters narrowly reject proposed Elburn sales tax increase

Elburn residents Tuesday rejected increasing the sales tax on general merchandise by 1 percent.

According to unofficial totals with 3 of 3 precincts reporting, 701 people opposed the increase and 683 people voted in favor.

The extra money would have gone to the village's general fund. The village board asked for it because it felt police pensions were straining that fund.

The village once was able to fund its police pension obligations through its Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund property tax levy because its police officers were participants like other village employees. The tax was separate from that collected for operations.

Without the sales tax increase, the village board has several choices, including increasing other, nontax revenues in the general fund, or cutting expenses. In early 2015, President Dave Anderson floated the idea of disbanding the police department and contracting with the Kane County sheriff's office to provide service.