The League of Women Voters of McLean County sent the following letter to the Mayor, Town of Normal trustees, and Normal Town Manager. The letter responds to a proposed local ordinance to replace revenue that will be lost by the elimination of the State of Illinois grocery tax. The proposed ordinance is on the Town Council agenda for Tuesday, Sept. 3. The official agenda can be viewed here on the Town website.
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September 2, 2024
Dear Mayor Koos,
I am writing on behalf of the League of Women Voters of McLean County opposing the imposition of a grocery tax by the Town of Normal which is listed on the Town Council’s agenda for consideration Tuesday, September 3, 2024. While the League of Women Voters generally supports broad-based sales taxes and understands their need to maintain Town services, we do so only with exemptions for food and medicine to reduce the impact on low-income persons. The new ordinance continues the soon to end state tax imposed on necessary and even critical items such as qualifying food, drugs and medical appliances.
While aggregate income statistics for the population of Normal portray a highly educated and affluent community, over 23% of our residents live below the poverty line, a fact which is hidden in the compiled data. (See https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US1753234-normal-il/). The United Way of Illinois reports information on a demographic group they call “ALICE” . This is an acronym for “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed”. The 2024 update to their report describes the increasing economic difficulties faced by these households. Find a link to the 2024 report here: https://www.unitedforalice.org/state-overview/Illinois. I point you specifically to page 10 of the report which highlights how recent inflation and changes in public assistance for food and rent have negatively impacted ALICE households.
We urge you to make it a little easier for those among us who struggle the most. The need still exists for food pantries, SNAP benefits and other food subsidies. We understand that the loss of Town income from the current “status quo” grocery tax may be a challenge to fill. However, lower income residents will be those most likely to feel the benefit of discontinuing (voting no) on the tax and it would be one way of saying “we recognize your struggles”.
Respectfully,
Laurie Wollrab
President
League of Women Voters of McLean County