The East Peoria City Council last night held its first public hearing on two proposed business districts for its downtown.  Peoria Public Radio’s Alex Rusciano reports:

The districts could include a half-percent sales tax increase for the area around CostCo and an up to one-percent increase for Target.  Any sales tax revenues will help pay for infrastructure repairs around the businesses.  Council member Tim Jeffers says the additional tax would help business growth:

“In the long run if we weren’t able to do that those dollars would have to come from the TIF district or other areas,” Jeffers says.

“So the business district allows us to be very selective where we raise the funds and where we spend the dollars, it’s very specific and funds are restricted very much so.”

Two residents spoke during last night’s public hearing, one encouraged to see construction progress and the other opposed to another tax.  The next public hearing is set for next Tuesday.  The Council could then vote to establish the districts and set the sales tax amounts.