Next week when voters head to the polls, voters in Piatt County will be deciding on whether to support a sales tax geared to helping local school districts.

A handful of Piatt County schools have voted to support a measure on the Tuesday ballot to implement a one-percent sales tax that would go directly towards county schools. One such supporter of the measure is Susan Wilson, Superintendent of Blue Ridge Schools. Part of her district falls in Piatt County and she indicates the sales tax would only be able to be used for school facilities.

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The sales tax is in place in many surrounding counties, and according to Wilson, when members of the Blue Ridge district shop in Champaign or Macon County, they are supporting schools there. She feels if this tax passes, it would encourage shopping locally because the money would be going towards Piatt County Schools, of which, Blue Ridge is a part of.

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In the spring election, the Blue Ridge District saw the same referendum fail in DeWitt and McLean Counties, however, the goals Blue Ridge Schools set for what they would do with the added revenue will remain the same. Wilson explains they hope to ease the tax burden on property owners and to save for any items that may come up within their facilities.

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The estimated amount of revenue Blue Ridge would generate from the tax would be around $57-thousand. Wilson notes there is a group of residents handing out literature to get the facts out and there's been a couple community forums as well.

Wilson notes administrators within the district cannot solicit a yes or no vote, however, the community group can.

All but one district within Piatt County endorsed the sales tax.