By WMBD-TV

NORMAL – The Normal Town Council Tuesday night approved a local grocery tax.

During Tuesday’s council meeting, the tax passed four to three, with council members Scott Preston, Kathleen Lorenz and Andy Byars voting against it.

The state will eliminate the grocery tax starting on Jan 1. 2026, leaving the decision to local municipalities if they want to implement their own grocery tax.

According to a report from town staff, Normal receives roughly 2.3 million from the tax to fund capital projects, delivery of high-quality services and attainment of strategic goals and priorities.

Council member Chemberly Harris voted for the tax and said we would have paid down the road if we did not approve the tax today.

“This is not the short-term play,” Harris said. “It looks cute on paper to say that we just saved you money, but in two, three, four, five years when we have to go back and find a new way to charge that back to you, then we will really be the bad guys.”

Council member Kathleen Lorenz said she was voting against it due to the growing expenses residents have to pay at the store.

“Let’s focus on smart efficient budgeting before we just take the easy route and add more money,” Lorenz said. “Taking from the pockets of a growing number of households that can least afford it.”