Tomorrow and next week, Rock Island County residents will learn about the board's five-year budget proposal which includes a sales tax hike. At meetings tomorrow, Monday, and Tuesday, county officials will also discuss a proposed, five-year capital improvement plan.
County Administrator, Dave Ross, says the Rock Island County Board will only approve one year at a time. But the five-year operating budget plan would help members do the necessary long term planning that's been lacking in the past. And the half-cent sales tax increase should help fill up the empty reserve fund.
Ross says the revenue from the sales tax increase would also start to pay for long-deferred maintenance projects.
All three meetings will feature an overview of the county's goals, the budget outlook, and a review of possible budget scenarios. The first will be held tomorrow morning at 9:30 at Western Illinois University's Riverfront Hall on campus in Moline. The other two will be held Monday and Tuesday nights at 7:00. Monday's will be held at the Loud Thunder Forest Preserve's Martin Parchert Pavilion. And Tuesday's will be held in Port Byron at Messiah Lutheran Church. All the Rock Island County budget proposals are available on its website.