Mayors Oppose Illinois Grocery Tax Bill

On Monday, several Illinois suburban mayors protested a proposal from Governor J.B. Pritzker to eliminate the one percent sales tax on groceries in the state, reports Chicago Tribune. The mayors noted that it would force reduced services or higher alternative taxes.

Illinois originally suspended the grocery tax during the pandemic to relieve the financial burden on families, but now Pritzker is advocating for the tax to be permanently repealed.

“If it reduces inflation for families from four percent to three percent, even if it only puts a few hundred bucks back in families’ pockets, it’s the right thing to do,” said Pritzker.

The mayors of Algonquin, Barrington, Cary, and Libertyville said the tax cut would hamper their ability to provide basic services, adding Pritzker should reconsider, or that Illinois needs to replace the full 10 percent that municipalities previously received from the state income tax.

“This is only going to hurt us immensely,” said Algonquin Mayor Debby Sosine.

The report noted that revenue from the grocery tax goes entirely to local governments. Dropping the tax could cost municipalities millions. For Algonquin alone, Sosine said that it would slash the local budget by 10 percent, or $2 million.

Carry officials will ask voters in the March 19 election for home rule power to create a new one percent sales tax to pay for infrastructure improvements. Full Story (Subscription Required)