Elmhurst May Keep 1% Grocery Tax

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst may join a growing list of towns that are keeping the 1 percent grocery tax.

Last year, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation doing away with the statewide 1 percent sales tax on groceries and drugs as of Jan. 1, 2026.

The state has long distributed all the money to the towns where the tax is generated. Under the new law, towns can decide to keep it.

DuPage County towns that have done so include Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Carol Stream, Lombard, Westmont, Wheaton and Woodridge.

Most states don't charge such taxes because they are assessed on necessities and hurt the poor more.

On Monday, the Elmhurst City Council's finance committee plans to discuss whether to keep the tax locally.

In a memo this week, Christina Coyle, Elmhurst's finance director, said the tax's elimination would have a significant effect locally, with an estimated loss of $1.6 million and $2.6 million annually.

That amount is the equivalent of 18 police officer salaries or 30 percent of the city general fund's annual street resurfacing program, Coyle said.