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Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Shoppers discounted in debate over grocery tax
Just when Illinoisans thought they were getting a break from paying the highest taxes in the nation, disappointment came calling like a spring thunderstorm. After all, government can giveth and government can taketh away. That's what's happened to the grocery tax, which Gov. JB Pritzker touted as a tax break for Illinoisans, especially poor folks, when he signed a bill last year to repeal the state's 1% levy on groceries. Groceries are taxed at 1.75%, with 1% returned to municipalities. Except the bill gave an out, allowing municipalities to implement their own tax to make up for the revenue shortfall. Municipalities have until Oct. 1 to enact a tax without having to go to a referendum. Which is what plenty of Illinois cities, towns and villages are doing. Residents aren't getting a say if they want to add more to their grocery bills during a time of climbing food prices. That's because if the question was put to them, they'd surely say, 'Heck no.' In west suburban Bensenville, which straddles Cook and DuPage counties, in the April 1 municipal election, voters rejected any proposed tax hike by 91%. That display of sentiment hasn't stopped more than 160 Illinois towns from moving to restore the grocery tax at the local level. Mayors, village managers and city council members moan they need that dependable revenue, yet never take into consideration cutting expenses. Some may think a 1% tack-on at checkout isn't a big deal, but the grocery tax — considered regressive by many — has generated an estimated $400 million annually for municipalities. There's been a lot of finger-pointing between the governor's office and local officials, who have been given what they consider a fiscal burden to bear. Or come up with a replacement. Gurnee is but the latest Lake County village to consider imposing some sort of sales tax increase to make up for the lost revenue when the state grocery sales tax ends on Jan. 1, 2026. The Lake Forest City Council unanimously voted to levy a 1% grocery sales tax. Other county towns that have done the same include Bannockburn, Barrington, Buffalo Grove and Lake Zurich, while Lake Bluff is eyeing its own grocery tax. More, many more, will certainly be following. In Lake Forest, officials estimated the city would lose $525,000 in revenue with the elimination of the grocery tax, according to a News-Sun story last month by Daniel I. Dorfman. Yet, the city currently has an approximate $3.6 million surplus. In Gurnee, which also has a considerable surplus in its budget, earns $2 million to $2.5 million from the tax, according to Erin Yarnall's front-page News-Sun story last week. The village's finance guru said Gurnee receives approximately $1.1 million from Target and Walmart; $670,000 from Aldi, Mariano's and Jewel; up to $480,000 from drugstores, and $230,000 from other retailers. That's a lot of tax revenue to make up, but Lake County taxpayers also pay the most taxes in the state. Illinois residents pay the highest combined state and local taxes in the nation, at more than $13,000 annually, according to a recent report by personal finance firm WalletHub. Gurnee, which has no village property tax, has a sales tax rate of 8%, which includes the 6.25% state sales tax. That is a higher sales tax rate than 79.8% of Illinois' other municipalities, according to one estimate. Food prices in 2025 are expected to rise 3.5%, after a 3.3% jump the past year, according to the federal government. In 2025, overall food prices are anticipated to rise slightly faster than the historical average rate of growth, the government forecasts. In 2022, when the state suspended collecting the grocery sales tax because of inflation, food prices increased by 9.9%, faster than in any year since 1979. With consumers impacted daily by prices at the supermarket, they have been left out of the debate of replacing the grocery sales tax. April was the last time a referendum could be held on the topic unless a municipality's leaders want to hold a special election. That certainly is not going to happen. If you thought your grocery bill was going to be 1% less during those weekly market trips come Jan. 1, you'll be among the many disgruntled Illinoisans who believed they finally were getting a break on those high taxes until your local officials got involved.
Chicago Tribune
22-04-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Lake Forest City Council approves contract for new Forest Park playground equipment
Forest Park Beach is set to have a new feature later this year with the debut of a new playground. On April 7, the Lake Forest City Council approved a $600,000 contract for construction and purchase of equipment of a new playground. The new play area is set to be on the same spot as the current structure that was installed in 2004. 'We typically replace our playgrounds in about 20 years,' Superintendent of Parks and Forestry Chuck Myers told the City Council. 'So it is time.' The nautical-themed playground will have structures resembling a ship and a fish, along with slides and climbers, according to city officials. Similar to the existing playground, there will be one section intended for children aged 2-5, the other part enticing for 5-12-year-olds. The city presented two design options last summer in an online community survey generating more than 570 responses. 'It was a unique and fun opportunity to let the public have an active role in designing the playground that will go in later this year,' City Manager Jason Wicha said. The nautical-themed playground received 55 percent support from the survey responders. Myers added with the initial survey, the city received some feedback on features residents wanted leading to some changes in the design. Using those suggestions, the city incorporated enhanced accessibility for all children and expanded sensory play options with bongos and chimes. The new playground is also set to double the number of structures intended to provide shade and present fresh climbing options. Myers noted a second online survey went out with 50 people responding that they liked the enhanced design. Construction is expected to start in the fall and be completed around October 31, according to the city. Portions of the existing playground are scheduled to be donated to a Rockford-based charity that refurbishes playgrounds in other areas.
Chicago Tribune
28-01-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
After 12 years with the city, Lake Forest Finance Director Elizabeth Holleb retires
There were many accolades when the Lake Forest City Council honored Finance Director Elizabeth Holleb. For one council member, it was Holleb's ability to take complex municipal finance matters and put them in language easy to comprehend. 'You made this all made sense to me,' said Alderwoman Nancy Novit, 1st at the Jan. 21 City Council meeting. 'I can't imagine anybody stepping into your role and handling it with as much grace and patience.' After more than 12 years as Lake Forest's top financial officer, Holleb retired on Jan. 24. She received a Resolution of Appreciation plus many other tributes from many attendees including Illinois Municipal League Chief Executive Officer Brad Cole, Mayor Stanford 'Randy' Tack, and City Manager Jason Wicha. 'Elizabeth's biggest legacy will really just be the impact on our organizational culture. Every operational human resource decision across every department is inherently viewed through a financial lens first and not just viewed with the immediate impacts but with the long term horizon,' Wicha said. 'She deserves an enormous of credit for having all of us view these decisions through that lens.' Since June 2012, Holleb has overseen the city's finances and its approximate $115 million annual budget with 211 full-time employees. Throughout her tenure, the city has continued receiving a Triple A bond rating and collected other financial awards. 'I've very proud we have been able to maintain that through recessionary periods and COVID. I think the solid fiscal management that the city has a history of, has allowed us to maintain that Triple A bond rating,' Holleb said in an interview. Holleb is closing out the latest chapter of a 35-year career she pursued after taking a government accounting course in college. 'I was looking for a career opportunity that would allow me to be part of public service,' she remembered. There have been stops in Northbrook, Oak Park and then out west to Las Vegas, Nevada, and SeaTac, Washington. In October 2003, anxious to return to the Midwest, Holleb was named finance director in Highland Park, where her tasks included navigating the city through the 2008 economic collapse. In June 2012, Holleb decided to move north professionally becoming finance director in Lake Forest. While the two cities are very close geographically, she noted the revenue sources are different with Highland Park more reliant on sales taxes and Lake Forest overall more dependent on property taxes, which she believes allows for more stability against greater economic forces. As she analyzes her 12-plus years in Lake Forest, she cites her department's work on public safety pensions as a top achievement. 'We became more proactive and more aggressive in meeting those funding those obligations and I think that will save Lake Forest taxpayers millions of dollars in the long term,' she said. In terms of internal triumphs, Holleb points to the implementation of a new computer software system that she believes has led to greater efficiencies and transparency. She noted city personnel started using the new system shortly before the start of the coronavirus pandemic and the corresponding lockdowns in 2020. 'That was very fortunate for us as an organization because we had already automated so many of our financial processes that we were able to keep up and manage and do work from home remotely with our new financial system,' she said. Holleb did have some difficult moments over the last 12 ½ years including a report by a special counsel hired to investigate a city lobbying effort where almost $200,000 was spent without formal city council approval. Holleb was one of several city officials criticized for her actions in the lobbying effort by the special counsel. Now almost seven years later, Holleb said she did nothing wrong but acknowledges it was a difficult period. 'I have always taken great pride in my integrity and conducting my job in the highest ethical standards,' she said. 'To have my reputation marred by that event was troubling and difficult to work through. But I don't think the complete story was ever told and that was probably the hardest thing for me.' She later added, 'I got through it and in the end, I think it helped improve certain processes within the city and so I think that benefitted the organization going forward.' Also in 2018, Holleb received a cancer diagnosis. She is still heartened by how the staff supported her during her illness. 'Working here help me get around that,' Holleb said, noting she feels a debt of gratitude. 'That will be a memory that will stay with me forever.' As for other parts of her job, Holleb acknowledged an occasional source of frustration is the breakdown of property taxes where the city represents 22 % of the tax bill, with the two local public school districts taking up larger chunks. 'One of the challenges of working in the State of Illinois for a government finance office is we have so many taxing districts that impact the tax levy and yet we have no authority over those other taxing districts that they levy for taxes,' she said. Holleb said she decided to retire from Lake Forest as she thought she reached a professional crossroads and thought it was a good time for a transition. However, she will continue working. She has already been named interim finance director in Lincolnwood and is set to be in that community through May. She said she is open to other interim assignments in the future or there could be some teaching. The city is now looking for a permanent replacement with the search process expected to be complete in March, according to spokeswoman Dana Olson. In the meantime, Assistant Finance Director Diane Hall will Holleb's role on an interim basis. Yet Wicha, the city manager, spoke of the road ahead by whoever is hired tipping his hat toward Holleb by saying, 'There are very large shoes that need to be filled by whoever comes after her.'
