HIGHWOOD CITY COUNCIL’S 2.4.25 MEETING IN A NUTSHELL
Finance
The state currently collects a 1% tax on grocery purchases statewide, applying to most food items intended for home consumption, except those bought using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The revenue from this tax, totaling approximately $325M annually, is distributed to municipalities. Last year, the state passed a law repealing this tax, effective January 1, 2026. To mitigate the resulting impact on municipal budgets (e.g., an approximate $70k annual revenue reduction for the city), the law grants municipalities the authority to collect a local grocery tax. The City Council discussed a draft ordinance to begin collecting a 1% local grocery tax effective January 1, 2026, and continued further discussion to a future meeting.
Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued new regulations, which require the city — and most other community water suppliers in the country — to identify and replace lead service lines and certain galvanized service lines by 2037 (service lines are the pipes that bring water from the city’s main supply directly into homes and businesses). The requirements of the new federal regulations supersede similar requirements from a 2021 state law. The City Council subsequently voted to approve a professional services agreement with Christopher B. Burke Engineering to help with planning, regulatory compliance, and applying for funding. To fund these mandated improvements, along with other upgrades to its water system, the city will likely need to borrow money. To qualify for loans and afford the connected payments, the city will need to raise additional revenues and the City Council previously discussed various related options (e.g., increasing the local sales tax rate, adding a fee to water bills etc.). The City Council discussed a draft ordinance to increase the local sales tax rate by 0.0025% (equivalent to 25 cents on a $100 purchase), with an effective date of July 1, 2025, and continued further discussion to a future meeting.
Infrastructure
This year, the city plans to reconstruct the roadway on Washington Ave. from Western Ave. to Sheridan Rd. and upgrade portions of the sanitary sewer system. The Illinois Department of Transportation facilitated the bidding process and awarded the contract to Peter Baker & Son for $465k. The project will be funded by $128k from the federal Surface Transportation Program and $337k from city funds. The construction schedule has not yet been finalized, but the city anticipates completing the work by the end of fall.
Public Comment
Highland Park residents Art Kessler (incumbent), Bennett Lasko (incumbent), and Bradley Hergott, candidates for the North Shore School District 112 Board of Education, introduced themselves to the City Council.
A resident inquired about the city’s long-term budget outlook.
Moraine Township Supervisor Anne Flanigan Bassi highlighted the following township services.
Other
The City Council voted to approve meeting minutes from January 21, 2025.
The Library & Community Center’s February newsletter is here.
The Chamber of Commerce’s Bingo at Buffo's event will be held on February 23rd from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Buffo’s (431 Sheridan Rd.); additional information here.
Meeting Records