At least one Will County Board member is expressing a willingness to consider a public safety tax in order to increase revenue, but the board’s chairman said he thinks county voters are fed up with taxes.
Mike VanOver, president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1028, suggested the “user tax” during discussion of an anticipated Dec. 1 salary increase for employees.
VanOver said he’d be willing “to pay an extra 15 cents for a Big Mac.”
The current budget sets the increase at 1.5 percent, 1 percentage point below the expected increase.
Will County Finance Director Paul Rafac said the county administration is negotiating a contract with unions representing county employees. The 1.5 percent increase, Rafac said, is consistent with the county’s current offer. Union representatives have asked for a 9 percent increase, he said.
Board Member Ron Svara (R-Homer Glen), chairman of the board’s Budget Review Committee; and Board Chairman Jim Moustis (R-Frankfort) contend that budget cuts are the only way to operate the county without increasing taxes. Svara said he would be open to considering a public safety tax, but Moustis rejected the idea.
Both are unwilling to lay off employees or to seek tax anticipation warrants, a method of borrowing against future revenues. Instead, they are promoting significant cost-cutting measures, including salaries and benefits.