Steve Balich Editors Note: The gas tax like so many other taxes hurt people on a lower or fixed income. Are Will County Democrats in the Business of forcing people to move because they can’t afford life in Illinois or Will County? Under Socialism The Government controls everything by taking your money/assets, and giving you what they believe you need to live.
Tax could pump up to $24M into Will County gas tank, transportation director says
The Will County Board Public Works and Transportation Committee heard information Thursday on the prospect of adding a 4-cent to 8-cent gas tax of its own for motorists across the county.
When the state passed the capital bill, it allowed Will County to institute a countywide gas tax. Other collar counties were already able to do so. A countywide gas tax could generate anywhere from $12 million to $24 million in annual revenue, said Jeff Ronaldson, the county’s director of transportation.
A document Ronaldson presented to committee members described the potential return on investment of a local gas tax as “substantial” when compared with how Will County benefits from the recently doubled state gas tax. If a county gas tax is approved, the revenue could go toward improvement projects for county roads and state roads where they intersect with the county system. Like the state gas tax increase, it would be indexed to inflation.
(Steve Balich Editor Note:This means it can increase every year)
Will County Board member Mike Fricilone, R-Homer Glen, was skeptical of the prospect of imposing another tax on Will County residents.
“How much are we going to tax people?” Fricilone said.
He said he would like to see an advisory referendum for residents to vote on, even though it would not be binding on the County Board.
“We didn’t really ask them on the state [tax],” he said. “And we’ve heard a lot of negatives from people saying, ‘Hey the gas is up.’ Now we’re going to put that on top without even asking them? I’m not in favor of that.”
Ronaldson did add that there were some risks involved. For example, the long-term viability of a gas tax could be affected by the expected increase in hybrid and electric vehicles on the road in the next several years.
The board will likely discuss this and other issues related to state legislation at a meeting at 10:15 a.m. Thursday.
Ronaldson also discussed the benefits Will County could see with the state gas tax increase. The 19-cent increase is expected to generate a 68% increase in annual revenue for the county, contingent on actual gas sales throughout the year.
( Steve Balich Editor Note:The County has been doing just fine without the tax increase.)
He said the projected increase in revenue has sped up the schedule for major local road improvements. The start of the Gougar Road improvement project, between Laraway and Francis roads, was pushed up from 2022 to this year, and improvements to 80th Avenue, from 191st Street to 183rd Street, were pushed up from 2024 to 2021.
“It seems to me that we’re only getting a minute percent of that gas tax,” said board member Joe VanDuyne, D-Wilmington, who is chairman of the committee. “But it does help.”
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Steve Balich Editors Note: The Progressive income tax which allows elected officials to increase the tax as they see needed every year will be voted on by the people very soon. It Starts with the top tax brackets and always finds its way down to everyone else who can least afford it. Remember to vote no and tell everyone you know to vote NO!
Out gas tax is already one of the highest, and now you have the unmitigated gall to add to it? What planet do you come from? People are leaving the state in droves because of taxation schemes from the Democrats. You can’t tell me this is a myth, as I too am searching in Indiana for a place to relocate. What I’ve found is a total sellers market there, with very slim pickings. Will county? There are for-sale signs EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK. Dumb asses ….. take a look for yourself at what you are doing before it’s too late!
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