[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6346955,"mediaKeyId","2246265-b12af46fe08fdb7c55e7a7c6e56c25be","parentId",2246265,"title","Highwood council discusses reintroducing grocery occupation tax and a 0.25% sales-tax increase to fund water upgrades","audioSeconds",141,"startMs",434000,"endMs",575000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246265-b12af46fe08fdb7c55e7a7c6e56c25be&start=434&end=575","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246265-b12af46fe08fdb7c55e7a7c6e56c25be/thumbnail_434000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6346955/Highwood/Lake-County/Illinois/Highwood-council-discusses-reintroducing-grocery-occupation-tax-and-a-025-sales-tax-increase-to-fund-water-upgrades","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346955-cf07d6706487ea59ad7bfbd7b1620c0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776203728&Signature=MPFcN0TxHzbr8fc3KKq77boJxmV1HIsIHcRFxbn2xTbvBQKU2hSxcFi5B1q9CaAlch~Vnf-jlqMcFjVftWxp83hSzp3d7hYYLNAGSYLM74gNEOkZCwC7ipi5mJmBZpgztn6Nx34G1UfcYUj8LpDS5DO83jjJVy3lmzhRQGnIehvUeUp4RLb7pBca0IYhg2Dfg7k7SFKOYfJaSnGbDKBACNEmxEBA5bV12kcXXEv~XIWw6guhlXaoueeaGzyW1DZYD7HIhJ9AdvV6aL2aC3bfJXNoFB96CS3lmqk774R9wPzXsjCTVSQG4EPQtp9TelHv3UtKPqhWBC-ujVnyKBJk6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Highwood, IL","date","2025-02-05T15:14:01Z","article","City of Highwood officials discussed two proposed tax measures during the Feb. 4 City Council meeting: an occupation (grocery) tax tied to a change in state law, and a 0.25 percentage-point increase in the city\\'s home-rule sales tax to generate revenue for water-system upgrades.

Council members discussed agenda item 12.1, described as consideration of an occupation (grocery) tax after a change in Illinois law. An unnamed council speaker said the state has removed the statewide grocery tax and allowed municipalities to reestablish a local occupation tax; the speaker said that if the city does not act, Highwood could lose about $66,000 a year. The council indicated it would likely put the grocery-tax ordinance on the agenda for a first reading at the council meeting in about two weeks (the council\\'s third-Tuesday meeting), but no vote or ordinance adoption occurred at the Feb. 4 meeting.

Under agenda item 12.2, city staff member Scott described a proposed quarter-percent increase in the city\\'s home-rule sales tax to fund water-plant improvements, removal of flood service lines and possible water-main projects. Scott said the city is roughly estimating $10,000,000 in capital costs for plant and distribution improvements. He explained the proposed tax change by example: a quarter-percent increase would raise a $100 purchase to approximately $100.25. Scott said the additional revenue would demonstrate a revenue source that could support bonds or loans for larger projects.

No ordinance votes or formal approvals were recorded in the meeting transcript. Council members asked questions and discussed timing; the council did not adopt either ordinance at the Feb. 4 meeting and did not record a formal motion to approve either measure.

This report is based on council discussion during the Feb. 4 meeting; the transcript records council statements and staff remarks but does not show formal votes on the described ordinances.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02 04 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its Feb. 4 meeting the City of Highwood discussed two proposed ordinances: reauthorizing a grocery occupation tax after a state change, and a home-rule sales-tax increase of 0.25% to help fund about $10 million in water-plant and distribution improvements; no ordinance votes were taken.","taxTitle","Highwood, Lake County, Illinois","taxId",64377,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6346959,"Highwood resident outlines free tax-prep, senior transit and community fair during council public comment",337,55000,392000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246265-b12af46fe08fdb7c55e7a7c6e56c25be&start=55&end=392","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246265-b12af46fe08fdb7c55e7a7c6e56c25be/thumbnail_55000.jpg","/articles/6346959/Highwood/Lake-County/Illinois/Highwood-resident-outlines-free-tax-prep-senior-transit-and-community-fair-during-council-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346959-0c4c34814f8a1624b2d547defcefc33b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776203728&Signature=R8a5oTfNGMzV4MzBMx7RczWwge8VK9zRGX2CY75jEcmbE5LnDGoBmwQMkmTcrS7~BES5m5X2t2Dr886C3Jn3clCH-v6bdQ9xJQCA1vBw-br7h4Ky3aRIA04byq5uFT~5oh3J79YHCESkCFD9TRCyeRIPbTOkCR8P3aX9y6Fzy1SdsvOawT3-twIA8-YiUpKyYprh0CLro63HEnvzf4desXfF6AaquGHjNUfZwJ7YB4GF4HCuVvg~bsKz2FhpQLkCBn6aZS~yu5iOdRnNIfrxtyyacSrgkYVmWV3rlEdbIEH3ghnvJzqNbZIMciYBY6cpOaNTWRzZx59L6lEuda9Rrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Anne Sassy, speaking during the public-comment portion of the City of Highwood City Council meeting on Feb. 4, described multiple local assistance programs available to low-income and older residents.

Sassy said volunteers from Moraine Township provide free basic income-tax preparation through an IRS-certified program. She told the council the program uses about 25 volunteers, is open Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and that last year volunteers prepared “well over 300 returns” that produced about $325,000 in refunds. She said the program serves households with an upper guideline of about $67,000, with “a little flexibility” depending on household circumstances and urged the council and residents to help promote the service.

Sassy also described a township-operated transit van for seniors and residents with disabilities that runs weekdays from about 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the service travelling up to 15 miles outside the township border. She said the fare is $4 one way, $2 for income-qualified riders and that “if you have no money, we have taken people for free.” The program, she said, is used for medical trips including dialysis and rehab as well as errands such as grocery shopping and appointments.

Finally, Sassy promoted an upcoming community fair hosted by the Latino Advisory Committee, saying it will include tables for workforce development, legal aid, social services, childcare and health resources. She said the committee held a similar event last April and that organizers hope to expand outreach this year.

The council did not take formal action on any of these items during the meeting. Council members briefly discussed outreach ideas such as distributing information at local businesses and community locations.

Details reported here are taken from public comments delivered at the Feb. 4 council meeting; program eligibility rules, schedules and fares were stated by the speaker and were not supplemented by staff at the meeting.","At the Feb. 4 City of Highwood council meeting, a Moraine Township volunteer described free IRS-certified tax-preparation services, a senior/disabled transit van and an upcoming community fair; council took no formal action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Highwood council discusses reintroducing grocery occupation tax and a 0.25% sales-tax increase to fund water upgrades

Highwood resident outlines free tax-prep, senior transit and community fair during council public comment