OREGON – A countywide sales tax to benefit schools gained the support necessary to be placed before voters.

The Forrestville Valley School Board, which serves Forreston and German Valley, gave its unanimous approval Dec. 19, giving the measure the necessary votes to be placed on the April 9 ballot as a referendum.

Illinois statutes allow school district boards to initiate action to place a 1 percent sales tax question before voters in the county. For the referendum to get on the ballot, the boards that represent a majority of the student enrollment countywide must approve it.