By: Diane Benjamin
Chris Koos and Chemberly Harris are trying to defend passing a 1% grocery tax in the press. https://www.25newsnow.com/2024/09/04/normal-narrowly-approves-local-tax-groceries/
If you didn’t watch the meeting video you missed even some far left trustees hammering Pritzker for claiming he reduced taxes by eliminating the 1% tax. It was never State revenue, they just collected it and returned it to municipalities. Video link in this story: https://blnnews.com/2024/09/04/normals-fleece-passed-4-3/
Since 2019 Sales Tax Revenue has increased from $15,956,000 to 21,408,000 in 2023. That $5,452,000 increase is 34% in 5 years. You have less money in your pocket because everything costs more. Normal isn’t willing to live with less. Notice spending cuts are always draconian items taxpayers will notice. That is ON PURPOSE to make you accept progressive policies.
Bloomington does not plan to replace their grocery tax revenue when it expires in 2026.
Local Sales Tax receipts history – look up each year at this link: https://www.normalil.gov/128/Annual-Comprehensive-Financial-Report
2019 – PDF page 149 $15,955,645
2020 – PDF page 149 $15,764,141
2021 – PDF page 152 $16,676,523
2022 – PDF page 151 $20,290,195
2023 – PDF page 142 $21,401,799
2024 – This year’s budget $23,022,000 see link below. Click General Fund Line Item on the left.
That is another 7.57% increase in ONE year.
This issue is a perfect way to evaluate the future Mayoral candidates.
The election boils down to two choices: efficient government or tax-and-spend policies. Chemberly always echoes Koos’ thoughts but less coherently, missing a chance to support struggling voters. Lorentz rightly points out that efficiency should precede taxation. There are always efficiencies to be found in government; it’s time to begin to look for them.
Our elected representatives love spending OUR money. Normal Taxpayers are in for a rude awaking if the “Underpass” ever gets built!