BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — The Bloomington City Council on Monday voted for the grocery tax funds to be used only on infrastructure projects.
On Sep. 22, the council voted to continue a 1% grocery tax that is expected to bring the city $3 million a year. The vote at Monday’s meeting requires that money only be spent on infrastructure projects.
Council members tied their vote on the proposal 4-4. Mayor Brady broke the tie with a yes vote, ensuring the plan passes the council with a 5-4 vote.
Roads, sidewalks, potholes, sewers, buildings and other capital projects would now receive funding from the grocery tax, according to Mayor Dan Brady,
“The number one thing we all hear about is our infrastructure and our needs,” he said. “This is a way with the funds by the taxpayers that is protected to go towards what seems to be for all of us the number one priority from the citizens of Bloomington.”
The grocery tax used to be statewide, but it was recently repealed by the state legislature, with the tax expiring next year. However, cities and towns can implement their own grocery tax, which has happened in Peoria Heights, Morton and Bloomington.
The city’s infrastructure is also not great, according to council members. Ward 3 Council Member Sheila Montney said there is a 5-year backlog in sidewalks needing repair.
“I would still like to see, and I think the Council should see the total picture of the deferred maintenance that we have across the community,” she said.
Some council members opposed this proposal as the definition of infrastructure in the ordinance was too broad.
Ward 7 Council Member Mollie Ward said the grocery tax is a regressive tax that negatively affects the poorest in the community. She also said the new proposal doesn’t match the reason why they passed the tax in the first place.
“The reasoning that was given for why we needed to put this burden on the least of our community members was that we have a deficit,” she said. “I’m not quite sure how what we’re discussing tonight fits in with the fact that we have a deficit.”
WMBD TV can be reached at News@WJBC.com.
