As Galesburg City Council considers a .25% sales tax increase business owners have been making their concerns about the tax known. Many of the business owners that spoke at Monday's council meeting were concerned about the negative effects of an increased tax on them while still voicing support for the idea of a community center. Adam Vitale, President of G&M Distributors, says the public should know that Galesburg's prepared food tax would be 11%, equal to restaurants in metropolitan City of Chicago. Vitale says Galesburg restaurants wouldn't be getting the same value as Chicago establishments because their additional sales tax dollars are reinvested into areas of Chicago that drive business to prepared food establishments. In Galesburg, the additional 2.0% sales tax goes to the general fund. Galesburg's sales tax rate is 8.75% and that's combined with a 2% food and beverage tax the council imposed in 2007. SideTrax Bar & Grill owner Brad Bernardi says it's unfortunate the tax discussion is centered around a community center which he says "every community needs." Like Vitale, Bernardi believes the restaurant and bar industry will be disproportionately affected by a sales tax increase. Kit Wilcox, a local Realtor with Century 21, and co-owner of Cherry Street Brewing Company, urged the council to work within their budget to fund desired projects. Wilcox says raising the sales tax is not appropriate, and it's at the right level now. Watson-Thomas Funeral Home owner Mark Thomas thinks few are against a community center but he's wary of the "swift movement of a community center without a business model." Thomas says not knowing what annual expenses would be or what the debt load would be is "an oversight" that should be addressed. Dick Lindstrom, owner of Lindstrom's TV and Appliance, questioned how often a community center would be used, noting the dwindling use the previous center experienced. Galesburg aldermen, at their Dec. 19 meeting, are expected to consider approving the tax increase or possibly voting to ask residents about the tax increase at the ballot box in April.