Shoppers at Morton grocery stores will continue paying a 1% grocery sales tax next year, when the state's tax expires.
That's because the Morton Village Board on Monday approved the imposition of a village grocery sales tax, effective Jan. 1.
Revenue from the state's grocery sales tax currently goes to municipalities, and has for decades. As part of his budget proposal, Gov. JB Pritzker pushed to have the state grocery tax eliminated.
That means municipalities that don't impose their own grocery sales tax will lose that revenue as of Jan. 1.
Peoria, Pekin, Washington and East Peoria are among the local cities that previously approved their own 1% grocery sales tax. Morton faced an Oct. 1 deadline to report a local grocery sales tax approval to the state so the tax can be collected at the start of next year.
There was no discussion about the grocery tax among village trustees prior to the board's 5-1 vote for approval. Trustee Steve Leitch cast the lone "no" vote, while trustee Nate Parrott did not attend.
"I thought we had a responsibility to be a 'kinder and gentler' village board by not having a grocery sales tax on the one thing people must purchase," Leitch told WCBU on Wednesday. "I realize the grocery sales tax adds only $1 for $100 of food, but we could have been the one municipality trying to help reduce food costs by that same 1%."
During the meeting, Village Attorney Pat McGrath said the village's action does not mean Morton shoppers will deal with a tax increase.
"The tax will just collected differently," he said.
Extra police costs for fireworks show drop
In other recent village board action:
• The board approved transferring $3,864 from the tourism fund to the general fund to pay for extra police costs for the July 3 fireworks show. Police Chief Shawn Darche said extra police costs have decreased three straight years – the costs were $4,403 in 2023 and $4,126 in 2024 – because of more efficient operations and the use of traffic blocking devices.
• The board approved an agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation to modernize traffic signals at intersections along U.S. Route 150 (Jackson Street). The estimated $13,248 cost of the project will be split between the village ($1,325), state ($1,325) and federal government ($10,598).
• The board approved an ordinance amendment that makes owners of mailboxes that are not properly maintained ineligible for reimbursement from the village if the mailbox is damaged during a village activity like snow plowing. The reimbursement amount for properly maintained mailboxes was increased from $150 to $200.
• The board approved a 2025-26 fiscal year spending plan that calls for expenditures of $55.4 million and revenues of $44.1 million for a deficit of $11.4 million. Most of the deficit is due to $10.2 million of road projects above and beyond normal maintenance.
• The board approved a zoning change from empty lot residential to single-family residential for a village-owned property at 213 S. Fourth Avenue. An eyesore home on the lot that had been vacant for three years was demolished by the village in 2022. The zoning change will provide more options for future development.
• The board approved the purchase of a 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV Police Interceptor from Miles Chevrolet in Decatur for a state bid cost of $54,629, plus an additional $1,995 for a dealer-installed police package. The vehicle will be used by a future K-9 unit.
• The board approved the purchase of two body cameras and tasers from Axon Enterprise of Scottsdale, Ariz., for two new police officers. The village has a 107-month, $66,682 contract with Axon, with $6,134 due in September.
• The board approved selling vehicles no longer being used by water treatment, police and fire departments through GovDeal's auction site.
• The board held an appeal hearing for the village's denial of a sewer contractor's license for Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Peoria. Nobody from the company attended the hearing, so the denial was automatically upheld. The Greater Peoria Sanitary District Board's denial of a sewer contractor's license for Mr. Rooter led to the Morton denial.
