Faced with a “financial crisis,” a Metra official told the Will County Board his agency needs to partner with the county and others to address the problem of declining sales tax revenues and lack of state funds.
Sales tax, which makes up half of the commuter rail service’s revenues, has steadily declined due in large part to a rise in online shopping, said Norman Carlson, Metra’s board chairman, who spoke at Thursday’s county board meeting.
Additionally, the new 2 percent surcharge that the state will charge public bodies for its collection of sales tax will cost Metra $9 million, he said…Please click here to read Susan DeMar Lafferty’s story in the Tribune/Daily Southtown.
Locally, public hearings on the proposed cuts and fare increases will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Homewood Village Hall, 2020 Chestnut Road, Homewood, and Nov. 2 at the Will County office building, 302 N. Chicago, Joliet.
Metra also is seeking public comments via email: 2018budgetcomments@metrarr.com; via facebook.com/MetraRail; or in writing: Assistant Secretary to Metra board, Room 1300, 547 W. Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60661.
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