Peoria Heights Mayor Matt Wigginton on Fighting Illinois' Grocery Tax

In this episode of the Prairie State Wire podcast, host Bryan Hyde sits down with Matt Wigginton, the newly elected mayor of Peoria Heights. Wigginton explains his decision to veto a proposed local grocery tax after Illinois repealed the statewide version, arguing that taxing essentials would hit his community's struggling families the hardest.

He shares the economic history of Peoria Heights, concerns about creating a food desert, and how keeping groceries tax-free could help attract new stores. Wigginton also reflects on being one of the few municipal leaders in Illinois to reject the tax, the feedback he's received from residents and peers, and why he believes real relief starts at the local level.