Kane might use sales tax funds for public safety

GENEVA -- Kane County officials plan to use almost $6.3 million in sales tax to pay for some needed public safety projects.

The County Board Administration Committee is recommending a plan to spend the money over the next three years to take care of needed and some long-awaited projects.

The money is part of a new sales tax added by the state legislature for Regional Transportation Authority member counties as part of the RTA funding package.

Overall, the county will get an estimated $14 million a year from the tax, most of which will go toward transportation-related projects. But the County Board already decided to put 15 percent, or about $2.1 million a year, toward public safety.

Tim Harbaugh, the county's environmental, building and grounds manager, recently presented a proposed budget for spending the money during the 2009, 2010 and 2011 fiscal years -- about $7.9 million worth of projects. The major projects in it include $982,750 to relocate the 911 emergency dispatch center; about $3.5 million for new public safety hardware for 911; $850,000 for safety improvements to the parking areas at the Judicial Center and to Building A of the Government Center; and $1.5 million to replace Sheriff's Department squad cars.

The sales tax will cover about $6.2 million of the projects, but the county is getting other money to fill out the funding. The sales tax will be coming to the county for years; this budget covers only the first three years.