Illinois Valley

Mendota on pace for near-record sales tax revenue

City seeks to hire building inspector

Mendota’s sales tax receipts took a slight dip in early fall – down 2% in September – but the city remains poised for a near-record year.

“We could hit $1.7 million. It could be a record breaker.”

—  Emily McConville, city clerk

Monday, City Clerk Emily McConville told the City Council that retail sales receipts dipped 2.1% through Sept. 24, disbursed on Nov. 24. There is a 60-day lag between the submission of sales receipts and a city getting its share.

Despite the small downturn, Mendota is having a strong sales year. The city toppled monthly records in February and July and is on pace to just miss last year’s record haul of $1.7 million. A Shaw Local projection shows the city finishing the year with a near-record $1.68 million.

“We’re at about $1 million right now,” McConville said, “so, yes, we could hit $1.7 million. It could be a record breaker.”

Separately, the council placed on file its fiscal 2024 audit, which contained a few minor recommendations such as the tracking of grant expenditures, which indeed was recently implemented.

Finally, the city is advertising for a building inspector. In a related announcement, project director Annie Short also advised the draft version of the landlord ordinance soon will be ready for council review.

Tom Collins

Tom Collins

Tom Collins covers criminal justice in La Salle County.