ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – Christopher Sims believes there’s a wrong to right in Rockford.

“We’ve definitely been damaged by the injustices in regard to the possession of cannabis,” he says standing in front of City Hall.

On Friday, the lifelong Rockford resident advocates for the city’s REGROW Grant Program, intended to reinvest in communities hurt by the War on Drugs. A 3% sales tax on cannabis supplies the fund $850,000 annually.

“Black Rockford residents can benefit from the healing, which comes from the money being dispersed in the right ways,” Sims complimented of the program.

As Rockford approaches a nearly $3.7 million hole in its budget for 2026, city staff recommend repurposing the weed tax to prevent the deficit. They outlined major options as $2.6 million in one-time cannabis revenue, and redirecting annual collection into the general fund, or increasing property taxes for the first time in 12 years.

Redirecting the fee would de facto end REGROW.

“To me, that’s lazy,” criticized Sims. “Politically, we’re smarter than that.”

In 2020, city council set limits on the fee’s revenue — restricting it to support the “underserved.” Any change of the cannabis tax requires leaders to revise its intent. Sims and others on social media call for the fee’s REGROW program to avoid the chopping block.

“There has to be some areas in there where they can get money from and balance the budget, be more creative,” asserted Sims. “Keep the money for the Black community.”

The 2024 program offered $500,000 to nonprofits across the area — starting with “quick deployment” $10,000 grants and 2-year awards at $100,000 each.

Fauna Lewis criticizes Mayor Tom McNamara and other leaders for “breaking a promise” if they end REGROW.

“Those were promised to communities that are disproportionately affected,” said Lewis. “The property taxes are an issue that he [McNamara] should be addressing. He should be addressing that himself with funds that he is able to affect, not with taking funds that he’s already promised to additional communities.”

Although the poet and activist lives in Loves Park, Lewis defends Rockford’s program as leaving an impact across the area.

“It still trickles out. It affects all of us.”

Homeowner Jeanne Oddo suggests chopping REGROW may be the lesser of two evils.

“Poor people own homes,” she argued. The southeast side resident pushed back against those advocating for the cannabis-funded program.

“Do they think that by raising property taxes, that’s going to help with social equity?”

As a former council member as well, Oddo focused more criticism on city hall. She referenced Rockford’s nearly $23 million surplus achieved in 2024.

“Where is the money? Where did it go?” asked Oddo. Although most of the surplus went into this summer’s infrastructure improvements, the former leader questioned the city’s budgeting abilities — especially as it highlights a streak of flat property taxes.

“If we had a surplus, and they’re saying we were able to manage for 12 years, where’d the money go?” she submitted. “I put it on poor management, poor stewards of our tax dollars.”

WIFR reached out to city hall for comment, but has yet to hear back.

The first step in the 2026 budget approval process will be November 10’s finance and personnel committee meeting. That’s set for 5:30 p.m. at 425 East State Street, Rockford.

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