Town Hall Meetings planned to discuss proposed penny sales tax increase

Franklin County voters have the opportunity to take control of the future of their court house by voting for the proposed penny tax on April 4. The county’s current facility has outlived its usefulness, posing numerous maintenance challenges and safety risks to the public, employees, and crime victims who must attend court daily.

Funds are needed to build a new facility. The Franklin County Board has identified a couple of potential sites for the facility, which would be built to new state requirements for a court house. The best way to fund this construction is through a penny sales tax, which would not be charged on the necessities of food and medicine, but would add $1 to a $100 purchase of goods bought by those with discretionary income. The sales tax would be paid by visitors to our county, spreading out the cost of our new court house — leveraging the power of the penny.

A series of Town Hall Meetings has been planned to answer your questions about the proposal. County officials will be on hand at the following dates and times:

CHRISTOPHER: 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 22 at the Christopher Civic Center

SESSER: 6 p.m. Thursday, March 2 at the Goode Township Building

BENTON: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 7 at the Benton Civic Center

ROYALTON: 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 8 at the Royalton Village Hall

WEST FRANKFORT: 6 p.m. Thursday, March 9 at the Aquatics and Activities Center

ZEIGLER: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 14 at the Six Mile Township Building