The Soda Tax Is A Go, & It's Starting On Wednesday

By Stephen Gossett in News on Jul 28, 2017 9:40PM

The expensive stuff / Getty Images / Photo: Justin Sullivan

It's official: Chicagoans with a sweet (drinks) tooth will pay more at the checkout line, starting middle of next week.

A Cook County judge on Friday ruled against a challenge to the sugary-drinks tax, clearing the path for the penny-per-ounce surcharge to take effect next week. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said the tax will begin on Wednesday, according to the Tribune.

The tax was originally supposed to be instated July 1. But it was blocked the day before it was scheduled to stat by a judge who ruled the tax failed to spell out how it would refund taxpayers in the event that it was judged unconstitutional. The suit was brought by the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, who have lobbied against the measure since it was first floated. But the same judge who temporarily barred the tax settled the constitutionality question on Friday.

The sugary-drinks tax was passed last November. The city estimated it would bring in about $200 million a year in hopes of helping close the budget deficit. Cook County laid off more than 300 employees two weeks ago after the tax was suspended.

Preckwinckle said in a statement to the Sun-Times that the Cook County Board would look over finances and make decisions—including potential rollbacks of layoffs:

“The delay in implementing the tax caused by the merchants’ lawsuit forced us to put into motion cost-saving measures to cope with this revenue loss, which currently is at least $17 million. Until we are able to fully implement and collect revenues from this tax, we will continue to review our financial position and make adjustments accordingly.”

But one thing's certain: that Coke'll soon cost you a little more—beyond the tooth enamel.