Will County Gazette

Village officials in Park Forest plan to introduce a 1-percent local grocery tax starting January 1, 2026. This move aims to maintain revenue levels as Illinois phases out its own 1-percent grocery sales tax.

Deputy Village Manager and Finance Director Mark Pries presented the plan in a memorandum to the Park Forest Board of Trustees earlier this month. Without local action, Pries noted that the village could lose approximately $120,000 annually when the state tax ends at year-end.

"Replacing this revenue would otherwise require increasing the annual property tax levy," Pries stated in the memo. "The Village is opting to implement the 1-percent grocery sales tax instead."

The proposed ordinance, titled "An Ordinance Implementing a Municipal Grocery Retailers' Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax," was created under new authority given to municipalities by state legislation. This measure allows Park Forest to impose both a retailers' tax and a service tax on groceries, following the structure of the previous state tax.

The ordinance had its first reading at the Village Board's Regular Meeting on May 19, with further discussion during the Rules Meeting on June 9. Final adoption is anticipated on June 16.

If approved, the Illinois Department of Revenue will collect and enforce the tax. The ordinance must be filed with them by October 1 for it to take effect on January 1, 2026.

During Monday night's board meeting, Mayor Joseph A. Woods emphasized that this isn't a new tax but rather replacing an existing one.