Food and Beverage Tax Increase

New parking decks are much needed downtown Naperville, but come at a cost. 
For the last two years City Council, city staff, and the Downtown Naperville Alliance have been weighing all the options to help fund new parking decks.  Raising the food and beverage tax by 1.5 percent will provide the best solution. 

Before any decision is made, three-fourths of downtown restaurant owners must agree on the new tax.  Currently downtown Naperville offers funds derived from the city-wide 1 percent food and beverage tax. 

“When you really think about who uses parking downtown, it’s the people who go to the restaurants.  It really makes sense to raise the food and beverage tax to help pay for parking decks,” said Patti Roberts, Executive Director, the Downtown Naperville Alliance. 

The 1.5 percent increase will only be for the downtown restaurants. It is not going to be permanent and will only fund the new parking decks. This item is on the February 6th city council agenda, but will be tabled until the February 19thmeeting.  Until then the Downtown Naperville Alliance will be working out the details for the proposed downtownfood and beverage tax.