Public Funding of Evanston's Local Reparations Program - Alderman Rainey

AI Summary

Evanston's City Council designated a 3% Cannabis Retailers' Occupation Tax on adult/recreational cannabis sales as the sole funding source for the city's Reparations Program, projecting $10 million in revenue over ten years. The tax became effective July 1, 2020, with revenue remitted to the city quarterly; based on sales from January 1 through the document date, the tax would have generated approximately $450,000 minus state administrative fees. Evanston had one dispensary operating at the time, with Illinois planning to issue 75 new dispensary licenses statewide (delayed due to COVID-19 and tied applicant ratings), of which a 9-county region including Evanston was allocated 47 licenses; the document notes that 1–2 additional Evanston dispensary licenses would significantly boost reparations program funding. Illinois also scheduled issuance of 40 craft grower and 40 infuser licenses in July.