Downers Grove Village Council has yet to vote on a property tax increase, but has approved a maximum levy that could mean another $50 per year for the average homeowner.
Village Manager David Fieldman said two major steps are involved in passing the tax levy. The first vote is on the estimated tax levy, which occurred during the Nov. 17 council meeting.
“By voting to approve the estimated levy, council has established the maximum levy,” Fieldman said. “They can vote a lesser levy if they want to.”
The total estimated tax levy for 2009 will be about $20.9 million and was approved by a 4-3 vote Nov. 17.
The average home costs about $300,000 in Downers Grove, and Fieldman has estimated homeowners would see an increase of $50 to $52 on their property tax bill.
Commissioners Bruce Beckman, William Waldack and Marilyn Schnell voted against approving the maximum levy.
Beckman said voting on the levy was one of the most difficult votes in his 26 years in public office. He believes good government is based on compromise, which he believes has not been shown during budget meetings.
“This year there has been little compromise. In today’s economic environment we need to have appropriate counseling,” Beckman said. “The fact remains when Dec. 19 comes along we cease functioning. I vote no.”
Waldack said he would like to see the levy increased by $500,000 to have a chance to keep budget discussions going.
Starting a home rule sales tax Jan. 1 was something Waldack felt was not discussed and could have helped prevent dipping into the reserve funds.
Waldack wanted the increase in the proposed levy to continue discussing ways to fund senior services and counseling services.
“I think this is the wrong time to cut these programs,” Waldack said. “We are taking those ‘ata-boys’ and turning it into ‘oh nuts’ and that is what I see in this budget.”
Schnell said she cannot support a property tax increase, especially when other revenue has been proposed as an alternative.
“I cannot in good conscience support a property tax increase,” Schnell said. “One of the things I find disturbing is the fact that there have been alternatives that many of us proposed such as red-light cameras. I still think we need to pursue that as a way.”
Commissioners Sean P. Durkin, Geoff Neustadt, Bob Barnett and Mayor Ron Sandack supported the maximum tax levy.
Neustadt said he was comfortable with the levy and would vote in favor. Durkin said the village needs to reduce its expenditures in times like this.
“You hear what everyone else is doing to reduce cost, why can’t the village do that?” Durkin asked. “What we are faced with is a deficit. We are still spending $910,000 we don’t have.”
Barnett said there has been an enormous amount of debate and the council has assessed the magnitude of each decision.
“We are choosing to try and stay within our means and focus on things we can sustain for the long term as opposed to setting ourselves up to have this conversation next year.”
Sandack said the council is duty bound to find a way to make the budget work.
“Yes, I am voting for this levy because I am duty bound to put on a maximum tax levy,” Sandack said. “We are going to make people pay more to do a little less than what we do. We do too much and that is the dirty little secret. We can’t provide every service.”
Levy by numbers
• $20.9M Total for village
• $12.5M After abatement
• $25.8M Total levy including library
• $17.4M After abatement with library levy
Tax levy schedule
• NOV. 25 Truth in Taxation
• DEC. 8 Levy public hearing
• DEC. 15 Actual levy vote
