Kane Co. officials seek cut of pending new checkout bag tax

Kane County officials are poised to join several other local units of government that want a cut of a potential new charge to shoppers.

A preliminary vote by a majority of Kane County Board members showed only one opposed to a resolution supporting the "Checkout Bag Tax Act" proposed by Illinois State Sen. Terry Link.

The act would charge customers 7 cents for every paper, plastic or compostable bag provided by a retail establishment at the point of sale. There would be no such charge for consumers providing their own bags.

Under the legislation, retailers keep 2 cents of the tax. Another 2 cents go to wholesalers. The remaining 3 cents go into a Checkout Bag Tax Fund, which the bill also creates. Money in the fund, according to the bill, would be distributed to counties and municipalities.

Kane County officials estimate the legislation could net up to $700,000 it could put toward local environmental efforts. The number is based on an assumption the average person uses 50 checkout bags per year.

Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, Environmental Law and Policy Center and the Kendall County Health Department, are opposed to the plan. Kane County would join a slew of local municipalities, including Lake and DuPage counties, that support the bill.

The legislation passed an Illinois Senate committee vote with bipartisan support, including "yes" votes from local state senators Cristina Castro and Don DeWitte.

Kane County officials who back the plan reframed their own "yes" votes as also supporting the county's inclusion in any new revenue generated by the legislation - but not necessarily supporting the bill itself. That seemed to be an effort to gain support from any officials leery of supporting a new tax.

"In essence, it's not an actual tax," said Jarett Sanchez, co-chair of the county board's legislative committee. "It's a user fee. Anyone who votes 'yes,' you can honestly say you didn't support the bill; you supported the county's inclusion if it passes. Those are important distinctions."

County board member Doug Scheflow didn't buy into that argument. He was the lone "no" vote in the committee this week.

"I don't support new taxes for the state," Scheflow said. "Adding taxes is not the answer. I don't see it as a user fee. A user fee is when the government provides a service, and you pay for that service. This is a tax on the bag, and the government is keeping the money."

The full county board will vote on supporting the plan Tuesday.