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6 | June 14, 2018 | The New Lenox Patriot NEWS newlenoxpatriot.com Area districts weigh pros and cons of proposed sales tax increase 1 percent increase would fund school facilities and maintenance Amanda Stoll, Assistant Editor A measure to place a question on the November ballot would ask residents of Will County for a 1 percent increase in sales tax to help fund capital projects and maintenance at public schools across the county. In order for the measure to appear before voters, proponents for the increase need to gain support from school boards representing more than half of the county’s students. Districts in the area seem split on the issue, with Frankfort School District 157C voting to not support the measure, while Summit Hill School District 161 and New Lenox School District 122 approved the measure. Both Lincoln-Way School District 210 and Mokena School District 159 are in the process of considering the proposal and are expected to vote on it in the coming months. According to information provided to the districts by Stifel Financial Corp., an investment firm based out of St. Louis, districts in the area are estimated to receive between $700,000 and $3.26 million each year if the sales tax increase passes. The amount each district would receive is based on the number of its students, as a percentage of students in the county as a whole. Mokena D159 has an enrollment of 1,542 students, which is about 1.2 percent of the pubic school students in Will County, and is estimated to receive $720,254 each year if the measure were to gain enough support to be placed on the ballot and be approved by voters in the next election. Summit Hill D161 has an enrollment of 3,059 students, For All Your Real Estate Needs National Advantage Real Estate 328 E. Lincoln Hwy. New Lenox, IL 60451 815-485-0304 www.Eleanor4Homes.com Sparkling Service - Old Value - Brilliant Results Estimated income from County Schools Facility Sales Tax* School District Enrollment % of students in Will Co. Estimated annual income from CSFT Frankfort Community Consolidated 2,474 1.9% $1,155,583 School District 157C Homer Community Consolidated School District 33C 3,721 2.9% $1,738,046 Lincoln-Way High School District 210 Lockport School District 91 Lockport Township High School District 205 Mokena School District 159 New Lenox School District 122 Summit Hill School District 161 *Info from Stifel Financial Corp. which is about 2.4 percent of the pubic school students in Will County, and is estimated to receive $1,428,831 each year if the measure were to gain enough support to be placed on the ballot and be approved by voters in the next election. Lincoln-Way D210 has an enrollment of 6,971 students, which is about 5.4 percent of the pubic school students in Will County, and is estimated to receive $3,256,062 each year if the measure were to gain enough support to be placed on the ballot and be approved by voters in the next election. In other areas of the state, 49 counties have passed a County School Facilities Sales Tax, including Champaign, Peoria and Livingston Counties. Nearby counties — such as La Salle, Kankakee, and Iroquois — have all tried to pass the CSFT and each failed twice to gain voter approval. The tax would apply to sales within the county excluding cars, trucks, ATVs, boats and RVs, mobile homes, unprepared food, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins, as well as farm equipment, parts and inputs. The tax would also not apply to services. 6,971 629 3,709 1,542 5,211 3,059 5.4% 0.5% 2.9% 1.2% 4% 2.4% Funds from sales tax revenue could be used by schools to pay for facilities and maintenance, including new facilities or renovations, security upgrades, technology infrastructure, architectural planning, durable equipment, fire prevention, land acquisition, parking lots and roof repairs. CSFT monies can also be used to pay off debt from previous capital projects and abate property taxes. The projected time line for the tax, if approved during the Nov. 6 election, would put the sales tax increase into effect July 1, 2019, and school districts in the county would receive their first payment in October of next year. After that, districts would receive income monthly. District decisions Teri Shaw, chief school business official for Mokena D159, said the sales tax increase would allow Mokena District 159, as well as others in the county, the opportunity to decrease the district’s reliance on property taxes from residents by providing it with another source of income. “It would take care of all of the facility needs of this $3,256,062 $293,800 $1,732,440 $720,254 $2,434,011 $1,428,831 district in perpetuity,” Shaw said of Mokena D159 “It would take care of all the facility, buildings, grounds, infrastructure, technology, capital improvements — it would take care of all of that as long as this is in effect.” As someone who advocated for a similar measure in Grundy county, Shaw has an enhanced perspective of the challenges facing districts that support the measure in getting it passed by voters. “The biggest challenge is that we are not really existing in a tax-friendly environment,” Shaw said. “You’re asking the residents of the county to increase your sales tax by 1 percent. People don’t want to increase taxes in any way, shape or form. “...By increasing sales tax for everybody in the county, and everybody from other counties who come to our county to shop, what that has the possibility and the potential to do is lower our property taxes.” In Mokena, she said passing the CSFT would provide a source of income the district does not currently have to alleviate some of the tax burden the residents already agreed to for a 20-year referendum passed to build the junior high school. The debt from that capital project is expected to be paid off in the next year, and instead of asking voters to agree to keep the rate the same, the district could pass on the property tax revenue in lieu of the sales tax revenue. The Mokena School Board is expected to vote on the measure following a presentation by Stifel at its June finance committee meeting. Lincoln-Way D210 had the item on its May agenda, but tabled the vote to its June meeting. Brad Cauffman, assistant superintendent of business for Lincoln-Way D210, said he expects the board to make a vote at the June 21 meeting but cannot say for sure if it will or not. “What we’ve told the board is, we would use this money to do those projects on that 10-year facility plan, and then if — you never know how financials are going to go — but if we were able to get that plan well underway and keep up with it and we had any additional funds, then we would use it to pay down outstanding debt that the district has.” In the next few years, the district is expected to see increased debt payments, and the CSFT would help alleviate some of that burden on the district. “I think the biggest challenge is getting the taxpayers to understand, even the board, to understand what are all the options,” Cauffman said. He said if the CSFT passes, and the board chooses, then the sales tax revenue could replace property tax revenue. “I do think people would appreciate having lower property taxes,” he said. “...I think that — by using this Please see TAX, 9
newlenoxpatriot.com NEWS the New Lenox Patriot | June 14, 2018 | 7 Raffy’s Candy Store expands, launches shop in Frankfort Cynthia Freeman Editorial Intern VENDORS WANTED Due to popular demand, New Lenox-based business Raffy’s Candy Store has opened a second location in Frankfort. On May 30, owners Dave and Pam Rafalski decided it was time to spread the love — and sugar — and bring their signature shop to Frankfort residents, largely because of the number of people requesting a Raffy’s in their neighborhood. “The whole idea was presented to us,” Dave Rafalski said. “We weren’t looking to expand by any means, but the opportunity was presented to us by the Chamber and the Village of Frankfort. They had a good location and were customers of our New Lenox store and they said, ‘Hey, what are your thoughts on bringing this business and what you represent to Frankfort?’ They thought it would complement their downtown area.” The new candy shop, located at 21 S. White St., Suite 1, is surrounded by small boutiques and is in close proximity to schools in the area. Customers who walk into Raffy’s are greeted by a bright pink interior, rows of assorted candy bins, Plush Horse ice cream assortments and all the candy they can imagine. This store offers a variety of products in order to cure any sweet tooth. Raffy’s is more than just a candy store — it is an experience. “Our customer service, our cleanliness, to us, it’s not about having a business to sell a product, but it’s about bringing the experience to the customer,” Rafalski explained. The Rafalskis didn’t want Raffy’s Candy Store celebrated the opening of its new Frankfort shop with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 30. The new site is located at 21 S. White St., Suite 1. Photos by Cynthia Freeman/22nd Century Media The family-run shop aims to provide a mom-and-pop feel and spark nostalgic memories in shoppers. just any ordinary shop; they wanted their customers to have a memorable neighborhood candy store that made them excited to get their sugar fix. Because there are only two locations, it is easier for Raffy’s to stay true to that mom-and-pop shop vibe. The staff at Raffy’s consists of family or close friends in order to keep it a family-run business. “I have four kids of my own and my nieces and nephews, so that’s how it all started, just by referrals from them,” Dave Rafalski said. “Their friends and extended family, that’s part of the good deal we have here. It’s more like you’re going to see me or my wife at one of the shops, not behind the scenes. We are definitely involved and engaged.” Although the New Lenox and Frankfort locations are similar, there are some slight differences between the two shops. There is more foot traffic in the Frankfort location compared to the New Lenox one. Additionally, the Frankfort shop is located in a residential area, while the New Lenox one is not, which can explain why it is more of an attraction. During the spring and summer, the Raffy’s Candy Store location in Frankfort is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays. The store’s hours are subject to change in the fall. THURSDAY, AUG. 9 • 6-9 PM GEORGIOS BANQUETS QUALITY INN AND SUITES CONFERENCE CENTRE, ORLAND PARK This event will feature a fun night out for women of all ages with vendor booths, health tips, mini workshops, refreshments and more! Cutting Values Please call 708.326.9170 to reserve your Ad. www.22ndcenturymedia.com PRESENTED BY 22ND CENTURY MEDIA TO BECOME A VENDOR, CALL 708.326.9170 VISIT 22NDCENTURYMEDIA.COM/NIGHTOUT A 22 ND CENTURY MEDIA PUBLICATION Reach more than 87,000 homes and businesses! All ads will also appear digitally on each publication’s website. Appearing August 2nd Reserve your Ad by July 6 • Approve your Ad by July 12
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