Representative David Dill
Rhonda Silence
As the Cook County Community Center planning has progressed and other projects have unfolded, there have been numerous questions and interpretations of the language of the legislation that authorized the collection of a 1% sales and use tax in Cook County. The Cook County News-Herald spoke with District 6A Representative David Dill this week, asking Dill for his understanding of the legislation.
Representative Dill said when the Cook County board came to the legislature, it asked for extra uses for the local sales tax and for authorization to increase its bonding authority. “The bill contains permissive language,” said Congressman Dill. “That means that the county doesn’t have to do anything.
“When we passed the bill we had no knowledge of plans to build a new community center or to rebuild the existing community center. It is my understanding that it is being purported that the money must be used for a new community center only. We had no—nor did we intend to have any—knowledge of the community center or Superior National golf course or any other projects to be funded, other than they were to be for recreational purposes.”
Asked if there was a restriction on a “stand-alone” swimming pool, Dill said that was a hurdle on the county’s original legislative request, however the legislation that ultimately passed was broader.
“What they asked for was the latitude to spend this money for no specific purpose, but instead on a number of projects, the size, scope, and location of which is a solely local decision,” said Dill.
To see current proposals, visit the Cook County website at
Legislation that was passed:
The 2008 language approved by the legislature
included the following description for Use of
Revenues:
Revenues received from the tax authorized by
subdivision 1 must be used by Cook County to
pay the costs of collecting the tax and to pay
for the following projects: construction and
improvements to a county community center
and recreation area, including, but not limited to,
improvements and additions to the skateboard
park, hockey rink, ball fields, community center
addition, county parking area, tennis courts, and
all associated improvements; and construction
and improvements to the Grand Marais Public
Library.
In 2009, the law was amended to include the
following description for Use of Revenues*:
Revenues received from the tax authorized by
subdivision 1 must be used by Cook County to
pay the costs of collecting the tax and to pay for
the following projects:
(1) construction and, improvements, and
additions to a county community center centers
and public recreation area areas, including, but
not limited to, improvements and additions to
the skateboard park, hockey rink, ball fields,
community center addition, county public
parking area, tennis courts, and all associated
improvements areas; and
(2) construction of and improvements to the
Grand Marais Public Library;
(3) construction and improvement of a
countywide high-speed communications
infrastructure network; and
(4) construction and improvement of a district
energy plant for public facilities in Grand Marais.
* Words that are underlined denote additions to the law.
Words lined out denote language eliminated from the law
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