Politics
Belleville Sales Tax Increase Reaches November Ballot, Takes Effect January 2027
The measure would raise the local sales tax rate by half a percentage point starting January 1, 2027, adding an estimated average of $78 annually to household spending tracked by the city finance office.
How we reported this
The Belleville City Council voted June 22 to place a sales tax referendum on the November 3, 2026 ballot that would increase the municipal rate from 1.5 percent to 2.0 percent for general revenue. The change would apply to taxable purchases made inside city limits and would affect every resident who shops locally or pays utility bills that include the tax.
City budget documents for fiscal year 2026 show a $3.1 million gap between projected revenue and planned spending on street resurfacing and park equipment replacement. The referendum responds to that shortfall after the council rejected a proposed property tax levy increase earlier this year.
Timeline for When Residents Would See Changes
If voters approve the measure, the new rate takes effect on January 1, 2027. Retailers would begin collecting the additional half-cent on that date, with the first full month of receipts remitted to the city by March 2027. Property owners would first notice the impact on utility statements mailed in February 2027 and on their annual property tax bills issued in March 2027.
Local advocates note that the sales tax applies to most everyday purchases except groceries and prescription drugs. A household spending $15,600 per year on taxable items inside Belleville would pay an extra $78 annually under the new rate, according to the Belleville Finance Department projection released in May 2026.
Budget Figures and Next Steps
The same May 2026 projection estimates the increase would generate $2.4 million in new revenue each full fiscal year. That figure is based on 2025 taxable sales data reported by the state revenue office and adjusted for population growth recorded in the 2025 census update.
Ballots will be mailed to registered voters beginning October 15, 2026. If the measure passes, the council must adopt an implementing ordinance by December 15, 2026, to meet the January 1 start date. City staff have scheduled two public information sessions for September at the Belleville Community Center to explain the collection process and revenue allocation.