ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — The City of Rock Island is eliminating its local gas tax while implementing a new street improvement utility fee.
City officials said that by eliminating the gas tax and implementing the street improvement utility fee, the City will collect $2 million, which is $1.5 million more than was collected with just the gas tax. Officials also said that its gas tax has become inadequate due to the increased fuel economy, electrification of vehicles and increased competition from Iowa. The City released the following gas tax revenue figures for the following years:
- 2023 - $374,530
- 2022 - $368,593
- 2021 - $421,461
- 2020 - $428,796
The street improvement utility program is designed to maintain Rock Island's public transportation, including roads, sidewalks, parking lots, traffic signals and street lighting. Officials said the primary focus of the funding will be on residential streets, with about 30%, or 44 miles, of the 148-mile road network expected to see improvements within the first five years.
Rock Island residents will see the street improvement utility fee added to their quarterly water bills in early November. The fee will be applied based on the size of residents' parcels and will be implemented as follows:
- All parcels with a gross area of less than 6,000 square feet will pay $7 per month
- Parcels greater than 6,000 but less than 18,000 square feet will pay $10 per month
- Parcels greater than 18,000 but less than 43,560 square feet (an acre) will pay $20 per month
- Parcels greater than 43,560 square feet will pay $30 per month