What are the pros and cons of eliminating Illinois’ grocery tax?
The produce aisle in County Market in Champaign, Ill. John Shay/Illinois Student Newsroom
Governor J.B. Pritzker recently decided to eliminate the 1% tax on grocery items statewide. In his budget address this year, he said: “If it reduces inflation for families from 4 percent to 3 percent, even if it only puts a few hundred bucks back in families’ pockets, it’s the right thing to do.”
However, some say the grocery tax elimination might not be as impactful as it seems and may even have an adverse effect. An economics expert joins the program today for an in depth discussion on how doing away with the grocery tax will affect regular Illinoisans as well as municipalities that benefit from the revenue that comes from the tax.
GUEST
Elizabeth Powers
Interim Associate Director, Institute of Government and Public Affairs
Professor of Economics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign