With the dysfunction in Illinois politics, state government this year is projected to spend as much as $13 billion more than it will collect in taxes. And the situation could be getting worse.

Proposals to raise local taxes were a mixed bag with voters in east-central Illinois. Voters approved school bond referendum in the Champaign and Paxton Buckley-Loda school districts, and said yes to sales tax hikes in Coles and Iroquois Counties. But a sales tax hike for Macon County and a property tax increase for the Maroa-Forsyth school district went down to defeat.

Voters in Champaign County have three countywide referenda on the ballot this year.  Two of them are dueling proposals about whether to elect a countywide board chair or executive.  The third would raise the county’s sales tax one quarter of a percentage point for a period of twelve years, with the revenue slated to go toward facilities projects, including an expanded county jail at the satellite location in east Urbana.

Democrat Josh Hartke explains several reasons for his opposition to a sales tax increase for county facilities in an interview with Illinois Public Media's Brian Moline.

The Champaign County Board is expected to vote Thursday night on whether to place a referendum for facilities on the ballot for this November.  The initiative would raise the county’s sales tax one quarter of a percent for a period of 12 years.  Illinois Public Media's Brian Moline spoke with Champaign County Administrator Rick Snider about the proposal, including plans for the county jail.