Endorsement: Yes on Barrington sales tax increase

Barrington makes a compelling case that it could use more money. Most suburbs can, given the state's move to cut into local sales tax collections and the exponentially rising costs for fire and police pensions.

Our preference for towns facing a shortfall: Find a way to reduce costs.

Barrington officials say they've done so, cutting staff from the equivalent of 154 full-time workers to 108, and that, as a non-home-rule town, they have few other ways to raise money. The village seeks a 1 percentage point sales tax increase to raise about $1 million a year to pay for roads and other infrastructure and to make up for a doubling of fire and police employee pension contributions since 2012.

We're not opposed to the increase, given the relatively meager cost: $1 more for every $100 spent in the village. Under state law, the local tax won't be charged on vehicle sales, certain groceries or prescription drugs.

On other purchases from clothing to restaurant meals, the total sales tax would rise to 10 percent on the Cook County side of town and 8 percent in Lake County, though only a small portion of that goes to the village.

Neighboring Palatine and Hoffman Estates already are at 10 percent, but the Lake County towns of Deer Park, Kildeer and Lake Zurich are at 7.5 percent, and Fox River Grove and Wauconda are even lower.

Barrington officials are gambling that the difference is too negligible to send shoppers and diners to other towns, and we think they're right. We support a yes vote.