Local library districts could get a new source of revenue by way of recreational marijuana sales taxes if a recently introduced legislation becomes law.
State Rep. Dan Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, has sponsored a bill that would allow libraries to impose a 1% use tax on sales of recreational cannabis, according to a news release from Didech’s office days ahead of the start of the legislative session Tuesday.
As of Jan. 1, recreational marijuana became legal in Illinois for some people age 21 and older. According to the new legislation, signed into law over the summer by first-term Gov. J.B. Pritzker, people can possess, consume and purchase up to 30 grams of the drug.
While municipalities cannot outlaw recreational marijuana, the law allows them to determine if it could be sold in their town. With approving sale of it, imposing a sales tax of up to 3% — or 3.75% in unincorporated areas — is permitted, according to the law.
With Didech’s proposed legislation, he said he wants to a distribute those tax revenues within library districts, allowing 1% to go to the library districts .
“Our local library districts are completely reliant on property taxes to fund their operations,” Didech said in the news release. “This legislation will ensure they’re able to continue providing our families crucial services while reducing their dependence on property taxes.”
By replacing property tax revenue with income from cannabis sales, the library districts would be able to decrease the tax burden on middle-class families, he said in the release.
“Libraries provide an incredibly important service to our communities,” Didech told the Lincolnshire Review. “They’re evolving with the times. People don’t just go to libraries because they need to borrow books anymore.”
If passed, the law would take effect Jan. 1, 2021.
The initial idea for the legislation, according to Didech, came from conversations he had last year with representatives from local library districts, including Indian Trails, Cook Memorial and Vernon Area.
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Indian Trails serves the towns of Wheeling, Buffalo Grove and Prospect Heights. Vernon Area library is in Lincolnshire.
Representatives from these library districts said it is too soon to say whether or not they would impose the tax if the bill is passed, since Didech’s proposal will most likely go through changes during the legislative process.
David Archer, director of Cook Memorial Public Library District, said he brought up the legislation at a recent library board meeting. But, he said, the board would need more time to look at it before reacting or making a decision.
“I think we need to learn a little more about it,” he said.
The towns served by Cook Memorial includes Libertyville, Vernon Hills and parts of Mundelein. The latter municipality is the only one of the three that allows the sale of recreational marijuana within its village limits.
Cynthia Fuerst, director of the Vernon Area Public Library, said the staff appreciates that Didech is showing support for local libraries but can’t say yet “where all of this is going.”
Vernon Area’s towns include Lincolnshire, Long Grove and parts of Buffalo Grove and Riverwoods. While Lincolnshire said no to recreational marijuana dispensaries there, the village of Buffalo Grove allows them.
“We’re cautiously optimistic,” Fuerst said. “We’ll see what happens.”
Twitter: @kaitlinedquist