Mayor Chris Koos says the decision by the Town of Normal to add specific protections from discrimination for transgender and non-binary people to the human relations ordinance is a necessary public signal.
"It gives comfort to the population that's affected by this ordinance. I think that's the overarching [theme]. We're identifying ourselves as a community that's welcoming," said Koos, who voted Monday with the town council to change the ordinance to include gender identity protections.
The new language also includes anti-discrimination provisions based on traits associated with race such as hair texture and style. Language in the ordinance is similar to the state Human Rights Act. Koos, speaking on WGLT's Sound Ideas, said the changes more accurately reflect the population in the community and nation than the previous ordinance language did.
“The fact we’re talking about transgender and cisgender [today] and that really wasn’t alluded to in the original ordinance,” said Koos, adding he'd like to see the Human Relations Commission become more active in anti-discrimination education efforts.
He acknowledged council members did not say much before voting on the measure, unlike some other policies decided by resolution. He said the difference is that the human relations ordinance is not new.
“Normally, we’re going to address in discussion something that has been a problem. This is more reinforcing a concept,” said Koos. “I’d say it’s more proactive than reactive."
He said it would not change the general work of the Human Relations Commission that hears complaints about discrimination in the town.
“The Human Relations Commission would like to do more and we’re encouraging them to do more in terms of outreach and awareness in the community,” said Koos.
Grocery tax
Koos said if the town council creates a local grocery tax, it would essentially be status quo — it should not be viewed as a new tax, but a transfer from the state to local government.
Bloomington City Manager Jeff Jurgens said recently there is little appetite among Bloomington council members for a local grocery tax. Koos did not directly address the question whether that stance will impact decision making by council members in Normal.
"The math we've done based on data that we've collected for annual grocery purchases for low-income [people], it would be about $35 a year up to very high income about $85 a year in terms of total taxes," said Koos.
The town council will discuss the tax because the repeal of the statewide grocery tax would reduce town revenues by about $2.3 million per year.
The mayor said that is money that goes to road repairs, park updates, and other public functions that would not be available without a local tax on groceries. Gov. JB Pritzker has yet to sign the grocery tax repeal bill, but he pushed for the measure, calling it "regressive."
Koos said a local tax on groceries would not be a new tax, just a transfer from state to local authority that preserves the status quo and would prevent spending cuts. Home rule municipalities have the ability to impose a grocery tax and neither Bloomington nor Normal have done so. Koos pointed out the enabling legislation also gives non-home rule cities and towns the ability to levy their own grocery sales tax.
Town staff have begun briefing council members on a potential tax in small groups, said Koos. He said he’s not sure when council members will formally take up the issue, but it would be sometime after Pritzker signs the measure abolishing the state tax.
Pritzker said during the spring legislative session that for people who need the money the most, the grocery tax is a burden.
