Committee approves weed tax will go to vote of the full Board December 19th

Members: Revenue can pay for law enforcement, health care, reparations

By ALEX ORTIZ

#twill #tcot #sbalich #willcounty #weed #leadright #pot #tax

The Will County Board Finance Committee approved a tax on recreational marijuana sales throughout the county at its meeting Tuesday.

Although the County Board has yet to decide on whether to allow recreational marijuana sales in unincorporated areas, the committee pushed the decision on a tax to the full board for its Dec. 19 meeting.

The committee passed an ordinance to tax recreational sales in unincorporated areas at 3.75% and sales in municipalities within Will County at 3%. While the members largely didn’t argue whether a tax should be implemented, the discussion had more to do with how the potential revenue would be used.

Republican members said that the revenue generated should go to pay for potential law enforcement and health care problems incurred by the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state beginning Jan. 1.

“I’m supportive of the tax,” said Jim Moustis, R-Frankfort, during Tuesday’s meeting. “All indications show that there are costs that go along with the sale of legal marijuana.”

Kenneth Harris, D-Bolingbrook, the chairman of the Finance Committee, conceded that the board isn’t quite sure how much revenue might be generated from the tax. Only two companies so far, one in Joliet and another in Romeoville, have received licenses from the state to sell recreational marijuana in Will County starting next year.

Harris ultimately voiced support for approving the tax.

“I think the costs will be there whether we pass this [tax] or not,” Harris said.

Steve Balich, R-Homer Glen, who is not on the finance committee, was the sole board member arguing against a tax, calling it “regressive.”

However, the three Republican members of the committee still voted against the ordinance, citing concerns over how the money will be used.

Where will the money go?

The ordinance says that all the revenue generated from the tax will be placed in a separate fund known as the County Cannabis Retailers’ Occupation Tax Fund.

Republican members argued they wanted more specific language about how the money will be used.

“I still think we need some clarification that the money from this fund will go to help offset costs incurred by the sale of cannabis,” said Gloria Dollinger, R-Joliet.

Minority Leader Mike Fricilone, R-Homer Glen, suggested the revenue generated should go to the Will County Health Department or to the county’s director of substance use initiatives, Kathleen Burke.

Although Democrats such as Harris agreed the money could fund health care services, they didn’t want to spell out specifics when it’s unclear how much revenue will be generated.

Reparations

Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, said she favored some revenue going toward “reparations” to help individuals who had been convicted of using marijuana.

Ventura said that people of color disproportionately were affected by policies outlawing marijuana use. Now that the state government will be able to expunge the records of individuals with marijuana convictions, she said they might need help attaining employment and housing in Will County.

“We want to make sure that we’re setting up opportunities here locally,” she said.

Jackie Traynere, D-Bolingbrook, and Harris voiced support for Ventura’s idea.

“I think that needs to be considered from a national level all the way down,” Harris said. “That definitely has to be considered.”