Elmhurst Panel Pushes Property Tax Hike

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst panel on Monday approved a plan to pay for an estimated $48 million police station.

In so doing, the City Council's finance committee rejected hikes to the sales tax, vehicle sticker fee and real estate transfer tax.

However, members agreed to the sale of a downtown property and increased property and hotel taxes.

They said the city's existing income could pay for about $20 million of the project as existing debt rolls off the books.

As for property taxes, owners of median-valued homes would see an average of $60 more on their bills.

The amount would be higher early on, up to $113 in 2027. But it would drop to $16 in the final years.

The committee also recommended a 1 percentage point increase in the hotel tax, which would bring an estimated $2.5 million for the project.

That hike operates "under the idea that hotels are frequent users of police services," said Alderwoman Noel Talluto, the committee's chairwoman.

Mayor Scott Levin agreed with the plan, including the hotel tax hike.

But he said he wouldn't say the hotels are using police services disproportionately. He said the police get a lot of calls from restaurants and bars.

Additionally, the committee recommended selling the city's property at 180 Park Ave., an office building with private tenants.

It expects to get $5 million from the sale. The building would also be used as a temporary police station while the current one is torn down and replaced.

Elmhurst resident Thomas Cruse warns against property tax increases during Monday's meeting of the City Council's finance committee. He said they hurt residents who live on fixed incomes. (David Giuliani/Patch)

The committee has worked on the plan for months. It voted unanimously for it at Monday's meeting.

During public comments, resident Thomas Cruse, who lives on Saylor Avenue, warned that further increasing property taxes hurts senior citizens such as himself who live on fixed incomes.

"Please don't make us move out of Elmhurst with these increasingly high taxes," he said.

Cruse is not alone in his concern. Other residents have also spoken up.

The plan is being sent to the council's public safety committee. That panel agreed on the need for a new police station, but wanted the finance committee to figure out how to pay for it.

Last month, the city launched a campaign to convince the public that it needs a new police station. While the 34-year-old station looks nice on the outside, officials said, it has numerous problems.

The city released videos in which the police chief explains the issues.