Machesney Park approves extension of 1% grocery tax

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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MACHESNEY PARK — Village board members on Monday voted 6-0 to continue a 1% sales tax on groceries after the state repeals it Jan. 1.

The board approved the measure without discussion.

The tax is estimated to bring in about $250,000 annually. Mayor Steve Johnson previously said that revenue is hard for the village to go without, considering that it doesn’t levy its own property tax.

The tax has been collected by the state since 1990, and it was distributed to local governments. But that ends next year unless local governments vote to keep the tax in place.

Communities across the state have been deciding whether to keep the tax. The state law, signed by Gov. JB Pritzker on Aug. 5, left the option open for municipalities to levy their own 1% grocery tax.

The cities of Rockford and Loves Park previously approved keeping the tax. The tax was rejected in Belvidere and Roscoe.

The tax applies to most packaged foods and grocery items. It excludes certain items such a as alcohol, soft drinks, candy and cannabis-infused items.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which help low-income individuals buy food, are not subject to the tax.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas