HERRIN (WSIL) -- Herrin School District No. 4 will have to repay more than $2.7 million in misused tax funds.
The Williamson County Circuit Court made the judgement on January 14, 2021 for improper usage of funds received under the Illinois County School Facility Occupation Tax Law.
The law allows a county board to impose a tax of up to 1 percent upon all retail business to provide revenue for school facilities. The Williamson County tax was imposed on July 1, 2008.
During the period of July 1, 2008, to August 22, 2011, Herrin Community School District No. 4 received $4,261,248.83 in funding through the 1 percent sales tax.
Under the law, the district was to utilize the funds solely for school facility purposes.
It was determined by the courts and an independent audit that more than half of the amount was utilized for improper purposes.
The District has been ordered to repay $2,279,625.10 to its capital projects
fund for the benefit of its County School Facility Occupation Tax Law fund.
