The village's retail sales tax increase is now in effect and businesses are already adjusting their prices.
Several items on the drink menu at Sweet Treats and Coffee Too have increased by one cent to satisfy the retail tax increase. An employee there said some items remained unchanged.
The increase comes after the Morton Economic Development Council approached the Morton village board in favor of a 0.25 percent increase in sales tax to help fund facade improvements and commercial development within the village's retail areas.
Through the creation of business districts, the village is able to increase the sales tax by up to 1 percent. Instead, the village opted to increase the sales tax rate by 0.25 percent — upping the former rate from 6.75 to 7 percent. The increase would help generate about $400,000 that would go toward street and sidewalk improvement, along with business facade improvements.
