The Honorable David Cherry entered an order March 7 in Scott County Circuit Court directing Scott County to adopt a tax levy and accept it for Scott County Special Service Area Number One.
It also authorized and directed the Scott County Clerk to extend taxes as levied by the County Board of Commissioners for payment in 2023.
The order entered by Judge Cherry followed the filing of a complaint by Attorney James S. Sinclair on behalf of the Winchester EMS which alleged that the Board of Commissioners “was informed that there was ‘a problem with the legal description’ of the Special Service Area.” Having been informed of this, the Board was unable to levy a tax for the Special Service Area prior to the deadline of Dec. 27, 2022.
The complaint also stated, “It is in the best interests of Scott County and its residents for this Court to direct and authorize the Board of Commissioners of Scott County, Illinois, to proceed at this time with the adoption of a 2022 tax levy for the SSA as had been intended on Dec. 27, 2022.”
Board Chairman Robert Schafer stated, “The entry of the order resolves the issues concerning the deadline not being met to levy a tax to fund Scott County Special Service Area Number One. The voters of Scott County voted in favor of the SSA, therefore we support the entry of that order.”
Board member John Simmons stated, “I agree with everything Bob said. It is in the best interests of Scott County that this problem be resolved.”
The County was represented by State’s Attorney Richard K. Crews, who said, “I did not object to the entry of the order. It resolved an issue that will now allow us to move forward with securing funding for the SSA.”
Crews and Sinclair agree that the remaining steps are for the Winchester EMS to contract with Scott County to provide ambulance services and to conduct an initial audit prior to any funds being dispersed. Sinclair will be working with Winchester EMS in the coming weeks to address those items. The tax levy will be placed on the agenda of a future commissioners’ meeting.
