Burr Ridge could start restaurant tax in May

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Updated: April 23, 2012 1:50AM

Diners in Burr Ridge soon could see a 1 percent village tax added to their restaurant bill.

The Burr Ridge Village Board voted 5-0 Feb. 13 to direct staff to draft an ordinance enacting a 1 percent place of eating tax. The tax would apply to sales at any establishment that has seating intended for the consumption of prepared food.

Village Administrator Steve Stricker said the tax is expected to generate $200,000 for the village.

“We’ve pledged to turn back about one-third of it to the restaurant association,” said Mayor Gary Grasso.

The yet-to-be-established association could use the money to market itself. Grasso said he knows of no other town that shares its restaurant tax revenue with its eateries.

The new tax, if approved by the Village Board, will take the tax rate from 8.5 percent to 9.5 percent at the village’s Cook County restaurants, Stricker said.

Diners at DuPage restaurants would pay 8.25 percent.

Village officials hope to begin charging the new tax May 1.