Council votes to keep Lockport’s municipal grocery tax unchanged

The Lockport City Council voted to maintain the city’s existing municipal grocery tax rather than reduce it. During discussion of ordinance 25-0008, council members clarified the motion would keep the tax rate “as is” and not increase it. One council member voiced a preference to reduce taxes where possible, but the motion to keep the current grocery tax passed after a roll call. The transcript records at least one dissenting vote: Cardamone voted nay; the motion nonetheless passed. Council members framed the decision as aligning with a multi-municipality approach: Springfield’s action altered state-level treatment of the tax, and many Illinois municipalities have chosen to keep their local rates unchanged to preserve local revenue options. Staff and council said maintaining the current rate preserves municipal revenue while city leaders continue to examine broader property tax options for future tax relief. The ordinance was adopted at the meeting; staff will continue regular budget work and earlier-distributed departmental budget packets were cited as part of next steps toward next year’s budget approval.