Residents will get the chance to sound off on efforts to transfer more than $2 million from the county’s One Percent Sales Tax Fund during a 3 p.m. public hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
Voted on and approved by Henry County residents during a 2020 referendum, the One Percent Sales Tax Fund was created after voters chose to increase their taxes by 1%. The 1% sales tax hike is estimated to generate about $4 million per year.
Proceeds from the tax increase were earmarked for school capital improvement projects.
The school board is requesting $2,660,000 for the project. This requested amount exceeds 1% of the county’s budget, which means it requires a public hearing prior to the county board’s approval.
It’s about roof replacement at Laurel Park Middle
County officials are considering withdrawing from the fund to cover costs associated with replacing the roof at Laurel Park Middle School. During Henry County School’s 2024 budget, replacing the school’s roof was among the school-related capital projects.
“The twenty-year warranty on the roof at Laurel Park Middle School has reached its expiration,” reads a project description from the 2024 budget. “This project will seek to replace the PVC roofing with a rubber EPDM roof.”
The budget highlighted the One Percent Sales Tax Fund as a source for funding.
“This project may interfere with classroom instruction and will therefore be scheduled for times with minimal occupancy in the building,” reads part of the budget.
Other hearing covers sale of county property
A public hearing for a sale of Henry County property is also on the board’s Tuesday evening schedule.
The property is located at 119 Coffman Drive in Collinsville. It is the former bus garage for Henry County Schools. The board chose to sell to Meeks Commercial Properties, the outstanding bidder.
The amount paid for the property is $206,000.
The County Board scheduled the public hearing during their Jan. 6 meeting.
