By Erick Horng, abc7chicago.com
The Illinois Department of Human Services told the Cook County Board of Commissioners Thursday morning that parts of the sugary drink tax in Cook County are illegal.
In a letter delivered to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, IDHS said the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Nutrition Service determined Cook County is violating federal law when it comes to taxing low-income families on the new sweetened beverage tax. The letter specifically mentioned families who are in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP.
Government officials said they will suspend administrative funds to the state if the method of implementing the tax on SNAP recipients is not fixed, which means a possible loss of over $86 million in funding.
