Grocery Tax May Go On Bensenville Ballot

BENSENVILLE, IL – Bensenville voters may be asked next year whether the village should impose a 1 percent sales tax on groceries.

On Tuesday, the Village Board plans to vote on whether to put the question on the April 1 ballot. The referendum would be advisory only, meaning no tax increase would result.

This year, the legislature ended the 1 percent statewide grocery tax as of Jan. 1, 2026. But it gave towns the power to enact a local 1 percent tax without a binding referendum. That's because the money from the tax has gone to towns, not the state.

On Tuesday, the board is also slated to vote on asking voters in April whether the village should continue charging a fee to license domestic pets.

These measures are in addition to the binding referendum on whether voters want to keep the village's managerial form of government.

If a majority of voters decide to do away with the form of government, Village President Frank DeSimone would see his pay rise to $157,000, up from $38,000. At both levels, his pay is far above that of most mayors and village presidents.

The board's decision to increase DeSimone's pay occurred after the candidate filing period ended for village president and trustees. Local candidates are unopposed.