Hinsdale voters will be asked to approve a new 1 percent sales tax Nov. 7, but village trustees said Tuesday night they may impose the tax at a lesser rate if the measure passes.
State law allows municipalities to impose the tax in quarter-percent increments up to a maximum of 1 percent.
The local sales tax would be in addition to the state sales tax.
Village President Michael Woerner said the initial tax rate may be only one-half percent. Trustee Jean Follett cast the lone vote against the proposed referendum question. “I think we’re just pecking people to death,” she said, adding that the new sales tax would be in addition to a new restaurant tax that takes effect Oct. 1.
The new sales tax would take effect July 1.
Trustee Cindy Williams said she supports the referendum question in part because some of the sales tax would be paid by non-residents.
Gas station owner Don Hirhager, however, told village trustees Tuesday that the tax increase would drive his customers to neighboring towns with lower sales tax rates.
Hirhager owns Hinsdale Mobil at Chicago Avenue and Washington Street in downtown Hinsdale. He said that he makes about 5 cents a gallon on gasoline, and that a new 1 percent sales tax would cut his profit by more than half.
