Put Tax Hike On Western Springs Ballot: Panel

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – A key Western Springs panel has recommended a property tax increase for the April 1 ballot.

Last week, the village's finance committee proposed putting a $45 million referendum before the voters. If it passes, the village could go into debt by that amount to pay for infrastructure projects.

The owner of a median-valued house could see a property tax increase of hundreds of dollars.

With the help of consultants, the village has a list of "high priority critical" projects totaling more than $200 million, according to a village memo. The work would take place over the next three or four decades.

The projects involve roads, water, sewer and sidewalks.

Money from the village's $12 million roadway referendum in 2016 was exhausted this year.

On Monday, the Village Board is expected to discuss holding an April 1 referendum. No action is expected at the meeting.

For months, Village President Heidi Rudolph said a tax hike measure might be on the April 1 ballot.

In 2022, 54 percent of voters rejected hiking the sales tax by 1 percentage point to pay for local infrastructure.

One of Western Springs' challenges is that its income sources are limited.

That, in part, is because 95 percent of Western Springs is residential, officials say. Compared with other suburbs, the village's commercial tax base is small.