PEORIA, Ill. – A small sales tax increase is coming to Peoria’s Westlake Shopping Center.
On Tuesday night, the city council voted to approve an increase for the shopping center, going from a rate of .75% to 1%. The increase will help fund various improvements and maintenance for the center, as well as supporting the tenants in Westlake.
The tax is made possible because of a Special Service Area designated for Westlake, which the council also voted Tuesday night to extend its life of the SSA to 2055.
4th District Councilman Andre Allen, whose district contains Westlake, says the sales tax revenue is needed to help support the center in an age of online shopping, as well as increased competition from neighboring cities trying to lure businesses to them.
“We’re not competing against the East Peoria’s, the Metamora’s, the Morton’s of the world, because they’re not just bedroom communities anymore,” Allen said. “So when retailers are looking to go to these different areas, we have to be in a position where we’re proactive.”
The only “no” vote came from 2nd District Councilman Alex Carmona.
Comments