While visiting Peoria, Gov. JB Pritzker stood firm that ending the Illinois grocery tax was the right move for the state, despite concerns about the financial impact.
In February, city leaders said the end of the state’s 1% grocery tax could have negative consequences on Peoria and other municipalities in Illinois. The tax ends in 2026.
Pritzker said Thursday it was up to municipalities to make their own decisions on how to move forward without the grocery tax revenue. He said lowering taxes on food is “one of the most important things you can do.” He said he would recommend that communities implement something that isn’t as “regressive.”
“It was the most regressive tax you could possibly have, taxing people on food,” Pritzker said. “Wealthy people, middle class people can afford to go to the grocery store and pay 1%. Everybody else it’s hard. That’s one of the reasons I went after it.”
Peoria leaders said in February that the city would lose $4 million annually when the tax ended.