Sales tax hike could make April's ballot by Tuesday

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By Tuesday night, voters in Whiteside County may have a second chance to vote on a 1-cent sales tax hike for school infrastructure. Eight school boards - Erie, River Bend, Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico, East Coloma, Morrison, Rock Falls High School, Montmorency and Riverdale - all are scheduled to vote on resolutions this week to place a sales tax hike referendum on April's ballot. Last month, county voters rejected a sales tax hike 14,670 to 10,836, or 58 percent to 42 percent. To make the ballot, school boards that represent at least 51 percent of the student population in the county need to pass resolutions calling for the question. Last week, Rock Falls Elementary District 13 was the first in the county to begin the process by passing its own resolution. The eight districts scheduled to vote, plus Rock Falls 13, represent 64.78 percent of students in the county. The Sterling School board, which represents the remaining 35.23 percent of students in the county, will discuss the matter at its Wednesday meeting as to whether it will vote on the matter. An additional 1-cent on the sales tax rate would bring in an estimated $4.2 million, which would be distributed proportionately to the school districts based on student population. Revenue from the sales tax can only be used for school infrastructure projects such as air conditioning and heating upgrades, plumbing projects and roof repairs. To attend Eight school boards this week will vote on whether to place a sales tax referendum on April ballots. The Sterling School Board will only discuss whether it wants to vote on a sales tax resolution. • River Bend - 6:30 tonight at the River Bend District Office at 1110 Third St. in Fulton. • Erie - 6:30 tonight at the district administration office at 520 Fifth Ave. • Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico - 7 tonight in the district office at 79 Grove St. in Prophetstown. • East Coloma - 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the school at 1602 Dixon Ave. in the library, in Rock Falls. • Morrison - 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the high school at 643 Genesee Ave. in the Media Center. • Rock Falls High School - 7 p.m. Wednesday at the school, 101 12th Ave. in room 137. • Montmorency - 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the school at 9405 Hoover Road in the music room. • Riverdale - 7 p.m. Wednesday at the school at 3505 Prophet Road in the library. • Sterling - 7 p.m. Wednesday at the high school library at 1608 Fourth Ave.