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Antioch trustees repeal effort to impose natural-gas use tax after NICOR declines collection
Summary
Board voted to repeal a previously drafted local ordinance targeting a natural-gas use tax after NICOR told village staff it would not collect the levy under current statutory language; attorneys advised repeal given the village's non‑home‑rule status and implementation constraints.
The Village Board voted to repeal an ordinance that would have amended the Antioch municipal code to impose a natural-gas use tax on certain nonresidential customers. Village legal counsel summarized conversations with NICOR, the local gas utility, saying NICOR would not cooperate in collecting the proposed extraterritorial tax under current statutory language. Counsel advised repeal rather than pursuing an aggressive legal interpretation because Antioch is a non‑home‑rule municipality and the village lacks the unilateral authority to compel NICOR to collect the tax.
Trustees discussed prior attempts to expand taxing authority and the practical need for a utility’s cooperation to collect consumption-based taxes. With the repeal approved by roll call vote, staff said legal counsel would not pursue imposition without additional statutory or regulatory clarity.
What’s next: The repeal was approved; trustees may revisit local revenue options if statutory language or utility cooperation changes.
