Amendment of Municipal Code Section 3-43-030 to require two-thirds affirmative vote by City Council to amend tax rate on bottled water

Impact report

Written by AI from the official document. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This ordinance would require a two-thirds vote of the City Council to raise Chicago's 5-cent-per-bottle tax on bottled water.

Who it affects

People who buy bottled water in Chicago: They would keep paying the $0.05 per bottle tax, and any increase would need approval from two-thirds of City Council members.
Black and Latino communities: The text says these communities have more lead water lines and need to buy bottled water, so they pay more of the bottled water tax.
Families with children: The text says these families are forced to buy bottled water to protect children from lead, so a harder-to-raise tax rate affects them.
Working-class neighborhoods with high lead levels: The text says water tests show these areas tend to have the highest lead levels, leading residents to buy bottled water.
City Council members: Raising the bottled water tax rate would need a two-thirds vote of all members entitled to be elected, instead of a simple vote.

What changes

The bottled water tax stays at 5 cents per bottle unless changed by the Council.
Any increase to the bottled water tax would need a two-thirds vote of City Council members.
The tax rule still says buyers, not stores or wholesale dealers, pay the tax.

Money

Where: 36th Ward

When: Upon passage and publication

Sep 25, 2025: Referred, City Council. Two matters having been called, the Committee on Finance and the Committee on the Budget and Government Operations, the matter was Referred to the Committee on Committees and Rules.

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