Sales tax bill to support Peoria museum advances

<p align="justify">An Illinois Senate committee approved a plan Tuesday that will allow Peoria County voters to decide if they want to pay a special sales tax to generate money for the proposed riverfront museum.

<p align="justify">Senate Bill 2077 moves to the Senate floor for consideration. To become law, it must pass in the Senate and House and be signed by the governor.

<p align="justify">Sens. David Koehler, D-Peoria, and Dale Risinger, R-Peoria, are sponsoring the legislation.

<p align="justify">Peoria County Administrator Patrick Urich testified for the bill Tuesday in front of the Senate Local Government Committee. He said it is the best mechanism to provide funds for the museum.

<p align="justify">He, Koehler and Risinger emphasized that voters would have the final say on whether to boost the sales tax.

<p align="justify">"This is a tax that the people would have to want," Koehler said.

<p align="justify">Risinger added, "It's important that this is a referendum by the people."

<p align="justify">Urich said the size of the proposed tax has not been determined, but it likely would be 0.25 percent. On a $100 purchase, that would translate to 25 cents.

<p align="justify">At present, Urich said, the base sales tax rate in Peoria County is 6.5 percent -- 6.25 percent imposed by the state, plus a 0.25 percent countywide public safety tax. Some municipalities within the county, including the city of Peoria, tack on additional sales tax.

<p align="justify">It is unclear exactly when Peoria County voters might vote on the referendum question. That depends on whether, and how quickly, Koehler's legislation continues to advance through the General Assembly, Urich said.

<p align="justify">February 2009 is the soonest the referendum could be put to voters, he said.

<p align="justify">Additional legislation that would set aside $12 million in state funding for the Peoria Riverfront Museum project won approval last week from the Illinois House of Representatives. House Bill 4664 awaits consideration in the Senate.

<p align="justify">The Riverfront Museum carries an estimated cost of $65 million to $75 million.

<p align="justify">Another part of the proposed riverfront project, a $40 million Caterpillar Inc. visitors center, would not get any public money. Caterpillar has pledged $11 million toward the museum, but has said it would go ahead with the visitors center only if the museum gets enough funding.

<p align="justify">Adriana Colindres can be reached at (217) 782-6292 or adriana.colindres@sj-r.com.