Politics & Government
Geneva City Council Rescinds Places for Eating Tax
Diners in Geneva will not have to pay more on their bills after aldermen on Monday dropped a 2 percent tax slated to take effect on May 1.
GENEVA, IL - The Geneva City Council voted to drop a 2 percent places for eating tax this past week.
The tax, which would have taken effect on May 1, could have added 1.5 million to the city's coffers. City officials have said they needed that extra money for equipment and capital projects, including road repairs, the Daily Herald reports.
But outgoing alderman Tom Simonian, who recently lost a bid for mayor, argued on Monday the city does not need any extra money as it has a balanced budget and more than 25 percent in reserves, according to the newspaper. Simonian has also said the tax was communicated poorly to restaurants in town.
Find out what's happening in Genevafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The places for eating tax, which would have added an extra 2 percent on a customer's bill for food and beverage at restaurants, taverns and deli, was approved by aldermen in October 2016, according to and earlier article on the Daily Herald. At that meeting, some restaurant owners said they had never been told about the tax.
Find out what's happening in Genevafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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