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Spartans head to Final Four
EASTER ROUNDUP LOCAL, A3
TELEGRAPH SPORTS, B1
Monday, March 30, 2015
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
2015 ELECTION | LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX
WHILE STROLLING THROUGH THE MALL ONE DAY ...
Giving half a chance
Sterling and Rock Falls leaders hope voters will give their half-cent’s worth to help fix cities’ infrastructure issues BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
ROCK FALLS – People in Sterling want flooding issues resolved, and Rock Falls’ residents are calling for better roads. The question of how badly they want those infrastructure improvements will be answered on April 7. Both cities have Local Option Sales Tax referendums on the spring ballot that would bring a half-cent tax increase for merchandise bought in those cities. The tax would not be assessed on groceries, medication, services, farm equipment, cars, trucks, ATVs, boats, RVs, or mobile homes. If approved, the higher tax rate would come a little more than 4 months after another voter-approved increase. In November, Whiteside County
residents approved a 1 percent sales tax increase for the schools to be used for the maintenance of buildings. The increase on the April ballot amounts to an additional 50 cents on every $100 spent. If the tax passes in both cities, the sales tax rate would be 8.25 percent in the Twin Cities, in comparison to 6.75 percent in Dixon.
Sterling Sterling Mayor Skip Lee said that while the city is also exploring the option of instituting a stormwater utility tax, he believes the sales tax hike is the best choice for addressing about $14 million in stormwater sewer projects. “The sales tax makes the pool larger for who will help pay, and it creates a larger revenue stream more quickly,” Lee said. SALES TAX CONTINUED ON A4
2015 ELECTION | ROCK FALLS CITY COUNCIL
It’s experience vs. a new perspective
Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Jade Bauer gets her face painted Saturday afternoon during the YMCA Rock ‘N Stroll at the Northland Mall in Sterling. The event was held to raise funds to help the after school program students from Rock Falls Middle School and Woodlawn Arts Academy travel to the Chicago Art Institute.
Candidates applaud incumbent’s service, but say it’s time to hand over the reins
Gracie Young and Mirrin Tompkins, both eighth-graders from Rock Falls Middle School, work on creating their version of Expressionist artist Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” on Saturday at Northland Mall. The two students participated in the YMCA Rock ‘N Stroll, a fundraiser to help support the 21st Century Community Learning Center’s trip to the Chicago Art Institute.
BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
ROCK FALLS – Third Ward Alderman David Hand is hoping to soon mark a quarter-century on the Rock Falls Council, but two challengers believe it’s time for a change. Hand, 64, has been on the council for 24 years, and cites his experience, fiscal responsibility, and a passion for economic development efforts as reasons to keep him at City Hall.
“The city continues to have a balanced budget every year, and I think this council has shown a great deal of fiscal responsibility,” Hand said. Hand, a manager at County Market, said that during his time on the Finance Committee, utility bonds were restructured to save the city about $2 million. That savings, coupled with wise investments, enabled the city to pay off bonds on the hydroelectric plant 5 years early. ROCK FALLS CONTINUED ON A2
ILLINOIS
Across the state, cities are thinking about going for broke Lawmaker offers bill to let municipalities file for bankruptcy SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Stressed by pension debt, other financial issues and the possibility losing a chunk of their state aid, some Illinois cities want the option to file for bankruptcy.
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They’ve found an ally in a Republican lawmaker, who’s proposed legislation to allow municipalities to follow in the footsteps of Detroit and other cities in restructuring debt and paying back creditors. Opponents, however, say there are less drastic, intermediate steps than the “dangerous” path of bankruptcy.
INDEX
One thing is clear, Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey told senators earlier this month: “If history has proven anything in this state, delay, deferral and denial are not solutions.” Twelve states authorize cities to file Chapter 9 bankruptcy filings, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, and another 12
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grant conditional ability to file. Twenty-six states either don’t have Chapter 9 authorization or prohibit it. Rep. Ron Sandack is sponsoring legislation that would grant authority for communities to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 9 of the federal code.
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If history has proven anything in this state, delay, deferraland denial are not solutions.
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Today’s weather High 61. Low 40. More on A3.
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Larry Morrisey Rockford mayor
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