GALESBURG, Ill. — The Galesburg City Council proposed a quarter of a percent sales tax increase in its meeting on Dec. 5. It's set to be voted on at the Dec. 19 meeting.
The proposed increase would raise the sales tax from 1.00% to 1.25%, and according to Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman, it would generate an additional $950,000 a year.
"We are facing unmet needs. We've done a scientifically conducted survey that expressed to [the City of Galesburg], as the residents, what they want, and what they need. And they want better roads. And they want a community center."
That's based on a city-wide survey conducted earlier this year that drew in over 400 responses from Galesburg residents. The top three requests the City should focus on were attracting jobs and businesses, improving public roads and sidewalks and increasing activities for youths.
"We believe the two pillars of a community that people want to live in is an attractive, safe community. One that is drivable, and a community where people can gather and connect and learn and create."
But not all residents are on board with this proposal.
"Every time we increase the taxes, they never take it back off," Galesburg native Donald Johnson said.
Local business owner Richard Lindstrom said the increase wouldn't affect his merchandise's prices significantly.
"Well, in our particular case, we offer a good quality product," said Lindstrom. "We offer delivery and installation. And it's one of the things where I would say probably it wouldn't make a significant difference to us."
Lindstrom owns Lindstrom's TV & Appliance, a store that's been in business for 98 years. He said he wouldn't mind paying a few cents more to help fund public projects like a community center, but the way the city introduced the proposal makes it seem like the entire plan is incomplete.
"It's one thing to charge a tax, it's another thing to know what we're getting for the tax," Lindstrom said. "They didn't show us any kind of building drawing. They didn't show us the plans for what it was going to take, dollars and cents-wise. They didn't show us a program of what's actually going to operate within the building."
Schwartzman said the data for the surveys are available online at the City's website, and that he and the City Council have been working on the proposed tax increase and future renovation projects for well over a year, but he admitted everything could have been publicized better.
"It may not have received the coverage that it deserved," said Schwartzman. "And I think the city probably could have done a better job of communicating their findings along the way."
That's why he is personally hosting a public forum on Dec. 14 at Galesburg City Hall at 6:00 p.m. to take further feedback from the residents and clarify any questions about the future proposal. Schwartzman said he is also "issuing an executive summary of all the details related to this project" sometime next week.
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