Dear Families,

I wanted to take a moment to share some information about an upcoming referendum that will be on the county-wide ballot this November 3, 2026. South Pekin Grade School District 137,  along with all school districts across Tazewell County, is asking voters to consider a 1% Illinois County Schools Facility Tax (CSFT), also known as the "one-cent tax."

This type of request can provide funding for critical school facility repairs/renovations, security and safety measures for student well-being, and reduce the reliance on property taxes to fund these projects. If approved, the revenue from the one-cent tax would fund improvements for all public schools in Tazewell County, including ours. This additional revenue would be under local control, with funds distributed based upon student enrollment. In our district, here’s how the revenue would be used:

• Facility improvements: including remodeling the bathrooms, repaving the back parking lot, and updating outdated plumbing and electrical systems.

• School safety and security: including fire prevention, life safety, and school security systems.

• Student wellbeing: including paying for student mental health services

This type of tax is in place in every surrounding county that touches Tazewell County. If approved, the tax would be applied to qualifying sales, adding one cent per dollar spent on taxable items (for example, a $30 shirt would cost an additional 30 cents). Importantly, everyday items like groceries and medications are not taxed. It’s also worth noting that the majority of this funding, estimated at nearly 60%, would come from visitors outside of the county that shop and dine here. 

Our goal with this request is to prioritize the safety, security and well-being of our students while making necessary improvements to our schools facilities, all while reducing the reliance on our property tax payers through a new revenue stream. We encourage you to visit our referendum website www.tazewellforstudents.com for more details.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our students, staff, and communities. 

Sincerely,

Seth Mingus