The Village of Park Forest Board of Trustees approved a 1% home rule sales tax increase Monday night, a move officials say is aimed at reducing the Village’s reliance on property taxes and stabilizing long-term finances.

The measure passed during a special meeting on March 23, with all trustees voting in favor except Trustee Randall White, who cast the lone dissenting vote.

The increase is expected to generate up to $800,000 annually in new revenue and will take effect July 1, 2026, if filed with the Illinois Department of Revenue by April 1.

Shift away from property tax dependence

Village Manager Jon Kindseth said the proposal is part of a broader effort to diversify revenue streams and ease the burden on property owners.

“Currently, somewhere between 50 and 55% of our budget comes from property taxes alone,” Kindseth said. “We need to continue to build non-property tax revenues so we are not primarily reliant on that source.”

Kindseth noted that high property tax rates have historically made it difficult to attract new businesses to Park Forest, with some choosing neighboring communities with lower tax burdens.

By increasing the sales tax, officials say the village can potentially avoid future property tax increases while making the community more competitive for retail development.

Bringing rates in line with neighboring communities

With the increase, Park Forest’s total sales tax rate will rise to 10% in Cook County and 8% in Will County —matching surrounding municipalities such as Matteson, Chicago Heights, and Olympia Fields.

Village officials said Park Forest is currently below neighboring communities, which has not provided a meaningful advantage in attracting shoppers or businesses.

“There’s no advantage for the Village to leave the tax where it is,” Mayor Joseph Woods said. “The increase is not going to be a deterrent because it brings us in line with what people are already paying in other communities.”

Revenue largely generated by non-residents

Supporters of the measure emphasized that much of the new revenue is expected to come from non-residents.

According to Village data, approximately 73% of sales tax collected in Park Forest is paid by people who do not live in the community.

“This is an opportunity to have people who don’t live in our community contribute to the services they use,” Trustee John Moore said. “If we’re serious about addressing property taxes, this is something we should consider.”

Officials also noted that certain purchases—including groceries, prescriptions, and items bought with SNAP benefits—are exempt from the tax.

Potential uses for new revenue

While no final decisions have been made, Village officials said the additional revenue could be used to offset costs currently borne by residents.

Possibilities discussed include eliminating alarm registration fees, reducing or phasing out vehicle sticker fees, and limiting future property tax increases tied to capital projects such as the Park Forest Aqua Center redevelopment.

Kindseth said those decisions will be made during the upcoming budget process.

Long-term financial needs

Village officials also pointed to significant infrastructure and capital needs as part of the rationale for the increase.

According to Kindseth, the Village faces more than $100 million in identified capital needs, including road improvements, water and sewer upgrades, and aging municipal facilities.

“We have a long list of deferred maintenance and investments that the village still has to make,” he said.

Dissent raises concerns about process, priorities

Trustee White opposed the measure, arguing the Village should first examine internal spending and seek more community input before raising taxes.

“Why don’t we look within first?” White said. “Why is this the first thing that we go to?”

White also questioned relying on projected revenue while potentially eliminating existing sources such as vehicle sticker fees.

Board defends decision as necessary

Other trustees defended the move as a necessary step to maintain services and financial stability.

Trustee Maya Hardy noted that board members themselves will be impacted by the increase.

“We all live here,” Hardy said. “Whatever is increased, we incur as well.”

Trustee Erin Slone added that the change promotes fairness by aligning Park Forest with surrounding communities and reducing the burden on local property taxpayers.

“This is what leadership looks like,” Slone said. “We’re making a smart, informed decision that’s in the best interest of the community now and into the future.”