Marion leaders have approved a sales tax hike.
The four-to-one vote will bump Marion's sales tax by a quarter-percent starting July first, and is expected to bring in more than a million additional dollars to the city.
Finance Commissioner Anthony Rinella says employee retirement and benefit costs are going up - and so the city needs more revenue.
"The cost of doing business has risen, and is out of our control. The need for additional monies is very well-warranted."
City leaders say the new tax rate will be the same as Carbondale's, and slightly higher than other communities like Mount Vernon and West Frankfort.
Mayor Bob Butler says he doesn't expect shoppers to see a big difference in their bills.
"If you're paying eight-and-a-half now, and it goes up a quarter, you're paying eight-seventy-five. How many people are going to notice the difference? You're talking pennies."
But the tax hike was not without its opponents. Commissioner Angelo Hightower voted against it - saying the city needs to get its fiscal house in order before going to the taxpayers for more money.
Mayor Butler says the city's budget is sound, but costs are rising and additional funds are necessary.
