Western Springs Asks Voters For $12 Million In Road Improvements: What You Need to Know

Residents of Western Springs will not only see governmental candidates on their ballots next week — they’ll also be presented with a referendum asking them to approve $12 million worth of road improvement projects.

The Village of Western Springs hasn’t seen such a referendum since 2008, when locals were asked to say ‘yes’ to a $6.5 million plan for street improvements throughout the village. The referendum passed, and those funds lasted for six years before being depleted in 2014, the Pioneer Press reported.

According to the Village’s Roadway Program Report, in the two years since that funding has been cut, the Village has doled out $1 million each year to repair roads in dire need of some work.

Now village officials are asking residents to approve a $12 million plan, which they plan to roll out in three different bond increments to keep tax rates as low as possible.

Village trustees say they review road conditions each year and prioritize street improvement projects based on need. Since funding has been so low as of late, the Municipal Services Department has taken to just focusing on asphalt resurfacing instead of the more pricey construction projects, the Press reported.

If the referendum passes, village residents can expect to pay $200 more annually in property taxes for a home valued at $500,000 — the median in Western Springs.

Have any questions about this referendum? Let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to answer them for you.

Keep an eye out for more election and referendums break-downs this week on Patch.

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