A referendum on the ballot this April will seek to allow for the one-cent sales tax in Logan County to be used to bring in a school resource officer and expand mental health services for rural school districts.

Superintendent of Hartsburg-Emden (Hart-Em) schools, Terry Wisniewski emphasizes the tax rate is not going to change. Instead, it changes the scope of things it can be used on. Currently, the tax can help ease property taxes or be used on facilities.

According to Wisniewski, the district receives around $100,000 from the one-cent tax in Logan County and roughly $10,000 of that would be required for a school resource officer in the district. 

The SRO in Illinois schools recently came under attack when Illinois lawmakers proposed - as a part of the police overhaul bill last month - removing SROs from the school setting. Wisniewski credits his fellow superintendents for recognizing the dangers of such a measure and pulling together to have that provision removed.

Hart-Em would likely share the SRO with Mt. Pulaski. Wisniewski has a good working relationship with Hilltoppers Superintendent Fred Lamkey, and we'll hear from Lamkey later this week on Regional Radio News about the referendum and its impact on his district. 

The spring election is on April 6.