BLOOMINGTON - A tax increase to cover the construction cost of the U.S. Cellular Coliseum was not unexpected for those who opposed the project in the beginning. | VIDEO: Council votes for sales tax hike | Sales tax increase | Taxpayers taken for a ride?

But developers Erik Prenzler and Bud Hall are not interested in offering an "I told you so."

Instead they said they hope the city will move forward and continue to look at budget cuts to offset the cost of the building bonds.

The Bloomington City Council voted 6-3 Monday to raise the sales tax from 7.5 percent to 7.75 percent. The proceeds of the additional tax will be set aside solely to pay on the $29.5 million in bonds issued to build the Coliseum.

"No one likes to have our taxes raised," Hall said. "But this is something that had to be taken care of."

Prenzler said he is not looking back and added he is pleased the council approved a sunset date of 2015 for the increase.

But the sunset date and how the money is designated for use are merely suggestions for future city councils, said Mayor Steve Stockton. The amendments added to the increase proposal are not binding.

"Maybe a council will be sitting there five years from now and they may have different prerogatives for the money," Stockton said. "And it may not be prudent in 2014 to pay off the bond or refinance it. There are a lot of ifs."

It also does not mean the city will give up its efforts to see the Coliseum make some kind of profit annually, Stockton said.

"This does not take any pressure off of us," Stockton said. "We knew the Coliseum wasn't going to be a money machine, but it still needs to do what it was intended for and that was to provide good entertainment. If we can do that, then ideally that will allow us to make some kind of profit."

The sales tax increase is expected to generate about $2.5 million in new money for the city.

That will go toward paying the roughly $1.9 million annual bond payment. The remaining money will be added to a reserve account until 2014 when the city can start making additional payments on the Coliseum bonds.

The sales tax increase will add 25 cents to the cost of $100 in general merchandise and will not change the 1 percent sales tax on food and medicines. It will begin July 1.

By raising the tax, Bloomington joins several Central Illinois communities with a 7.75 percent sales tax, such as Champaign, Urbana, Danville and Springfield. Sales taxes in Peoria and Decatur are at 8 percent.

While Bloomington tried to keep many of its taxes and rates comparable to those of the town of Normal, the Twin Cities will differ on the sales tax. Normal Mayor Chris Koos said it is more than likely the sales tax in Normal will remain at 7.5 percent.

"If there is something that needed to be funded, I think they (Normal council members) would take a look at it," Koos said. "But to maintain equity with Bloomington is not a compelling enough reason."

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Sales tax rates

Shopping in Bloomington for most goods will be a little more expensive July 1. The sales tax rate will go from 7.5 percent to 7.75 percent (Food and medicine will remain at 1 percent.) Below is a sample of sales tax rates in other communities as of Jan. 1.

Carbondale…7.75

Champaign…7.75

Danville…7.75

Decatur…8

Normal…7.5

Peoria…8

Springfield…7.75

Urbana…7.75

SOURCE: Illinois Department of Revenue