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Forest Park council debates places-of-eating tax but delays action amid small-business concerns
Summary
Council discussed a proposed places-of-eating tax to address a multiyear budget deficit, but members and business-interested commenters urged caution; S1 said the tax will not be imposed now and staff will continue other revenue and development options.
Council members debated a proposed places-of-eating tax as one option to shore up the village's budget, but several members and attendees urged delaying or abandoning the plan given potential harm to small businesses.
"Anything that's going to make your livelihood more difficult is not something that I even really want to sit here and talk about," S7 told business owners in the room, acknowledging the village's structural deficit while expressing concern for downtown merchants.
Council members offered alternatives including filling downtown vacancies, zoning strategies to attract sales-tax-generating businesses, targeted incentives and enforcement measures to recoup existing revenues. S5 urged focusing first on economic development and recouping uncollected revenues before adding new business taxes.
S1 clarified the council was not imposing a places-of-eating tax at this time: "We are not looking to impose a places-of-eating tax at this time," she said, leaving the option open for future consideration when village finances improve.
Why it matters: A places-of-eating tax would shift some tax burden to diners and visitors rather than property owners, but multiple council members emphasized it would also fall on local business owners and could affect recovery and investment in the downtown.
Next steps: Council members asked staff to continue exploring revenue options, economic-development strategies, and to compile more detailed fiscal projections before revisiting the tax question.
