PEORIA HEIGHTS, Ill. (25 News) – Peoria Heights trustees have voted to override the mayor’s veto of a 1-percent sales tax on groceries, but the controversial issue may resurface in front of voters next spring in an advisory referendum.
Mayor Matt Wigginton’s September veto meant the village missed the state’s Oct. 1 deadline for the grocery tax to take effect on Jan. 1. The soonest it can now take effect is July 1.
Tuesday night, a required two-thirds majority of trustees overturned the veto, but according to 25 News, there was sufficient support for the board to consider an advisory referendum for the March 17 primary ballot at its next meeting.
Although the referendum would not be non-binding, some village officials said the results might determine whether the tax would take effect for the second half of 2026.
“What harm is asking the citizens of Peoria Heights what they want?” Trustee Brandon Wisenburg said.
The state’s 1-percent grocery tax is being eliminated at the start of 2026, and communities have been debating whether to replace the state tax with a local tax.
The new grocery tax will bring Peoria Heights an estimated $125,000 a year. Wigginton said village finances are healthy enough to withstand the financial hit, and it can handle some belt-tightening.
Trustees Wisenburg and Jennifer Reichert voted not to override the mayor’s veto, which is believed to be the first since the village cold was adopted 111 years ago.
Comments