The city of St. Charles will consider instituting a gasoline tax as part of its Fiscal Year 2018/19 budget.

The proposed city of St. Charles operating budget for fiscal year 2018/2019 will be presented to the Government Operations Committee tonight (March 19, 2018) in Council Chambers, 2 E. Main St., following the 7 p.m. City Council meeting.

Public comments are welcome.

The proposed FY18/19 City budget shows no increase to the city’s property tax levy, incorporates minor increases in the city’s utility rate charges, and proposes the introduction of a new gasoline tax of $.02/per gallon sold within St. Charles city limits.

“We are looking at introducing a gasoline tax to help cover the continued loss of state funding and help pay for capital projects, such as the city’s street rehabilitation program,” said City Administrator Mark Koenen. “We are estimating a $450,000 revenue loss, primarily in state funding from the Local Governmental Distributive Fund, and from the state’s related administrative charge applied to the local sales tax.”

If approved, the gasoline tax would take effect Nov. 1, 2018, and is estimated to generate $212,500 in revenue for FY 2018-19.

A formal public hearing on the FY18/19 Budget also is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. April 2, 2018, in Council Chambers. After hearing public comments, the City Council will vote on the budget at an upcoming meeting in April.

SOURCE: city of St. Charles news release