Kane County eyes sales tax hike for public safety

Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog recently made a presentation about a 0.75% retail sales tax increase that will appear on the April 1 ballot and would generate $51 million in revenue for public safety initiatives.

Author

Sam Kraft
March 05, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

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Kane County voters will soon decide whether to approve a 0.75% sales tax increase to help fund public safety programs.

The proposal, set to appear on the April 1 ballot, is projected to generate $51M in revenue for critical county initiatives. Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog recently outlined the need for the tax, pointing to rising costs and a budget shortfall.

Key Takeaways:

  • What it covers: Most retail purchases but not groceries, medicine, medical devices, or big-ticket items like cars and boats.

  • Why it’s needed: The county faces a projected $29M budget gap by 2027 as public safety costs have risen.

  • Where the money goes: Funds would support law enforcement, court operations, infrastructure upgrades and services like specialty courts, victim advocacy and crime prevention.

  • What happens if it fails? If voters reject the tax increase, the county will have to explore budget cuts or alternative funding sources.

Read more in this Shaw Local article.

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