Vote 'NO' to save Illinois dollars

LAWRENCE BAY had this letter printed in the July 10, 2016 Dispatch/Rock Island Argus. " Once again our Rock Island County schools are putting a referendum on the November 8 ballot requesting an additional one percent countywide sales tax. This is the same sales that the voters have wisely thrice rejected. It appears that Rock Island County will also ask for a .5 percent sales tax. ...... So far there does not seem to be much opposition to the sales tax referenda. Perhaps many voters are getting tired of the seemingly futile effort to resist ever higher Illinois taxes. Perhaps many would prefer leaving Illinois if they could just get a decent price for their homes. Many consumers may have already resolved to do almost all their shopping in Iowa where the sales tax is only 7 percent and let some other suckers pay the higher sales taxes in Rock Island County. ..... It is really tempting to let the school and county sales taxes rise to 9 percent on most purchases in Moline and Rock Island and to 10.5 percent on prepared food and liquor while we do almost all of our shopping in Scott County and pay only 7 percent sales tax. ..... Tempting, but short-sighted, because on every dollar spent in Iowa, Illinois would lose 6.25 percent in sales taxes. This would result in higher Illinois taxes or reduced services. Moline or Rock Island would also lose 1.25 percent on every dollar plus an additional 1.5 percent on every restaurant or liquor dollar. ..... To save Illinois dollars we must vote NO on the school sales tax."