Freeport City Council Passes Grocery Tax in Near-Empty Chamber While the “Terrible Trio” Rail Against Everyone But “MAGA” Mayor Miller
FREEPORT, IL – July 23, 2025
In a stunning but unsurprising move, the Freeport City Council passed Ordinance No. 2025-43 on Monday night, imposing a 1% Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax and a 1% Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax—a local reinstatement of Illinois’ former grocery tax, repealed by Governor JB Pritzker and the General Assembly earlier this year.
The new tax, set to take effect January 1, 2026, is expected to generate between $750,000 and $800,000 annually for the City of Freeport. But while city officials celebrated the measure as a step toward "fiscal stability," the process surrounding its approval—and the political theater surrounding it—told a far darker story.
A Vote That Affects Everyone — Taken in Front of Almost No One
Despite the tax’s broad impact on every Freeport household, the vote occurred in a nearly empty council chamber. It was a stark contrast to the energy seen over the past year, when residents frequently packed the room demanding transparency and accountability from Mayor Jodi Miller and her administration.
On this night, the silence was both symbolic and strategic. A tax making food more expensive—a tax with no specific spending plan—was passed without public input, without meaningful discussion, and without any concern expressed by the majority of the council.
Some have attributed the low turnout to political fatigue—after months of broken promises and ignored concerns, many residents now feel that their voices no longer matter to those in power. But a few key attendees did witness the moment: retired fireman and Greater Freeport Partnership board member Robert Bush, Illinois Senate candidate Joshua T. Atkinson, and Democratic activist and rumored future candidate Sue Cook.
Rubber-Stamp Politics: No Plan, No Debate, No Transparency
The measure passed without a single question from the council. Only three—Alderpeople Stacy, Simmons, and Sanders—voted no, showing the courage to break with Mayor Miller’s increasingly top-down administration.
City Manager Rob Boyer defended his recommendation by claiming “371 municipalities across Illinois” had passed similar measures—failing to mention that 371 represents less than 14% of Illinois’ 2,600+ municipalities. Freeport isn’t in the mainstream—it’s in the minority.
Boyer’s defense leaned heavily on the “everyone’s doing it” argument. But no explanation was given for how the tax revenue would be spent, raising suspicions that it will fund the controversial Open Bible Water Main project—a taxpayer-funded infrastructure extension to a private religious institution that contributes nothing in property tax.
Mayor Miller and Boyer offered no answers on how this tax might impact lower-income families, seniors, or those already struggling with rising costs. The administration that once claimed to prioritize “children and families” has now passed a tax that makes feeding those children more expensive—with no effort to explain, justify, or apologize.
Atkinson Walks Out: “I Tried.”
Perhaps the most dramatic moment of the evening came after the vote was taken, when State Senate candidate Joshua T. Atkinson rose from his seat and quietly walked out of City Hall, stopping only to say:
“I tried.”
When asked what he meant, Atkinson explained:
“For the past year, I explained in detail and warned the people of Freeport exactly what would happen if Mayor Miller was reelected. I wish I could say these were just campaign talk, guesses, predictions—but I can’t. They’re facts.”
“Everything I warned my community about—grant dollars not coming, misappropriation of taxpayer funds, rewriting the rulebook, and the blatant disregard for the people of Freeport—has all come true.”
“I promised Freeport I’d help bring positive change. And I intend to keep that promise—by going over Mayor Miller’s head and becoming a State Senator who fights for these issues in Springfield. I will write and support legislation that protects families, empowers businesses, and puts an end to the corruption and greed we’ve seen unfold here.”
The “Terrible Trio” Talks Tough—But Shields Miller
Earlier that same day, State Senator Andrew Chesney, State Rep. John Cabello, and House Minority Leader Tony McCombie were in Freeport hosting an “informational session” after having lunch at Cannova’s with Steven Chesney, Andrew’s father and a well-known behind-the-scenes political operator and piggy bank.
Many political observers suspect that Steven Chesney’s visit was more than casual—he was likely there to deliver strategic marching orders to the region’s MAGA establishment as they launch their re-election bids. Locals have already dubbed them the “Northwest Illinois MAGA Power Throuple.”
During their event, the “Terrible Trio” launched attacks on Democratic mayors across Illinois who have passed similar grocery taxes, branding them as “radical,” “fiscally irresponsible,” and “out of touch with hardworking Americans.”
What they didn’t do? Mention Mayor “MAGA” Miller, who—just hours later—passed the very same tax with their full, silent approval.
Their selective outrage confirms what more and more voters are realizing: the “Terrible Trio” isn’t concerned with good governance—they’re concerned with preserving power, rewarding loyalty, and protecting insiders. If a Democrat had passed the exact same tax in Freeport, there would’ve been torches and pitchforks. But because it was Miller, they looked the other way.
A Pattern of Power and Disrespect
Monday’s vote follows the 2024 “Miller 1% Sales Tax”—a measure marketed as “future infrastructure funding” that FOIA records later revealed was spent on previous projects, much of it benefiting Fehr Graham, the city’s go-to engineering firm.
And now, the 2026 Grocery Tax has arrived, passed with even less scrutiny and transparency—doubling down on a government culture that sees taxpayers as piggy banks and voters as afterthoughts.
What’s Next? The People Decide
This moment is bigger than a tax. It’s a reflection of a city hall that no longer listens. It’s a reminder that good people can be outvoted, but not silenced. And it’s a wake-up call to every Freeport resident, every small business owner, every working parent wondering why their voice doesn’t matter anymore.
But here’s the truth: it does.
And as Joshua Atkinson made clear: the fight isn’t over—it’s just moved to a bigger arena.
—Brought to you and paid for by Fighting4Freeport
