The Evanston City Council voted 8-0 to override Mayor Biss’s veto and keep a 1% local grocery tax in place, adopting ordinance 39‑O‑25 after a short debate in which supporters emphasized the tax is longstanding and protects low-income residents.

Council member Nussma summarized proponents’ arguments, noting the tax is not new, “less than half the cost of this tax is borne by Evanston residents,” and that purchases made with SNAP benefits are not subject to the levy. Supporters said other peer communities use similar levies and that the tax helps close a budget gap without increasing property taxes.

Council member Rogers said he initially preferred a home‑rule sales tax but that the grocery tax was the best available option within the council’s timetable. Council member Harris said she opposed the grocery tax as a matter of policy but would vote to override the veto because she did not want the alternative to be a larger property‑tax increase for Evanstonians.

After debate, the council took a roll-call vote; the clerk recorded eight ayes and no nays, meeting the two‑thirds threshold required to override a mayoral veto. The override rescinds the mayor’s veto and continues the 1% grocery tax under the terms of ordinance 39‑O‑25.