Between the rising debt of 150 billion dollars, the lack of a defined budget for over a year, and even the struggle for the industrial north and agricultural south to compromise, Illinois has been faced with endless struggles. However, contrary to common belief, the struggles don't end at the Cook County border; the financial struggle has made itself apparent to even the smallest communities.
The Franklin County courthouse, seated at the heart of Benton's town square, has a rich history; it was built in 1875 (the first was built on 1841, but it burned down two years after), and this is obvious in the pictures; little has changed in its structure between 1875 and 2016:
(1875)
(1907)
(Present day)
As impressive as this maintenance of history is, it is notable that any building that has stood for over 100 years is going to come with some severe disadvantages; as the building deteriorates, the cost of maintenance continues to rise. It's debatable whether or not the building is worth maintaining in the first place, as it lacks sufficient space, electricity, and accommodations for those with disabilities. Along with these issues, the courthouse struggles with being a courthouse at all; the outdated design means that criminals enter through the same entrance as spectators and jurors, and the boardroom, despite not being designed to do so, is often times used as a courtroom.
Simply replacing the antiquated courthouse with a sufficient one seems to be the obvious solution, but with that resolution comes yet another problem: how is the new courthouse to be funded?
The Franklin County Board has proposed a 20-year-period in which a 1% sales tax will be utilized to fund the construction of a new courthouse. Naturally, this proposal has been opposed by a vast majority of citizens, who fear that this tax increase will drive potential customers away from local businesses and prompt them to travel longer distances for better deals.
It is notable that Franklin County's current tax rate is 7.25%-- if it is increased by 1%, the sales tax in a town such as Christopher or Benton would be almost exactly the same amount paid by consumers in much larger cities such as Carbondale and Marion.
So, what exactly are the pros and cons of this proposal being passed? One obvious pro is having a more functional courthouse; many problems with the structure and space of the building will be alleviated. However, it is likely that we would see a significant decrease in local business; the main appeal of local business is better prices and better customer service, and if the demand for lower prices is not met, people will be willing to sacrifice the one-on-one mentality of small-town shopping for the convenience of chain stores.
Voting for the referendum will commence on April 4th.
Sources:
http://www.franklincountyil.gov/salestax
http://franklincountyil.gov/sites/default/files/do...
http://franklincountyil.gov/sites/default/files/do...
