Village of Westmont
Date Issued: Feb. 9, 2015
The Village has scheduled several community information presentations regarding the upcoming Stormwater-Infrastructure 1/2% Sales Tax Referendum, which voters will consider on April 7, 2015. “We want to make sure that voters are well-informed regarding this important topic,” says Westmont Communications Director Larry McIntyre. “The Village can neither advocate for nor against this referendum, so it is imperative that we do our best to provide factual information for our citizens to consider.” Following are some of the Stormwater-Infrastructure Referendum presentations that have been scheduled:
Feb. 21, 1pm - League of Women Voters Stormwater Presentation
Westmont Library, 428 N. Cass
Feb. 26, 8am - Westmont Chamber Stormwater Referendum Presentation
Westmont Centre, 1 S. Cass
Feb. 26, 6:30pm - Village of Westmont Stormwater Referendum Presentation
Village Hall, 31 W. Quincy
March 1, 2pm Westmont Library Stormwater Referendum Presentation
Westmont Library, 428 N. Cass
March 26, 6:30pm - Village of Westmont Stormwater Referendum Presentation
Village Hall, 31 W. Quincy
The Village has already held referendum presentations for the Maercker School District, Westmont Lions Club, and the Chamber Downtown Westmont Business Alliance. “If any local group or homeowner’s association is interested in having us come out and provide information on this topic, please contact us,” adds McIntyre. “Additionally, we’ve posted a digital copy of our presentation on the Village Website for residents to review.”
The language for the referendum has been certified by DuPage County. The question on the ballot will read as follows:
Shall the corporate authorities of the Village
of Westmont be authorized to levy a non-
home rule sales tax at a rate of 1/2% solely
for expenditures on a municipal stormwater
management program and public
infrastructure?
Registered Westmont voters can vote yes or no on the question. The Stormwater-Infrastructure Sales Tax Referendum will appear on the April 7, 2015 Spring Election Ballot.
“This is an initiative that was driven by the community,” says Mayor Ron Gunter, “and I’m very pleased at how we all worked together as a team to come to this solution. Per the feedback we received from the majority of the community, the Board decided to move forward with a Stormwater-Infrastructure Sales Tax Referendum.”
Specifically, the April referendum will ask voters to consider a local general sales tax of 1/2% (which is half a penny on the dollar). Per the wording in the referendum, all monies generated by this sales tax would be dedicated to stormwater management and public infrastructure only.
“For more than a year, the Village has been working on this initiative,” says Village Trustee Jim Addington, “and after considering all of the options, it was decided that this modest sales tax increase would be the best way to address this problem while having minimal financial impact on our citizens.”
STORMWATER-INFRASTRUCTURE SALES TAX REFERENDUM FACTS
* Westmont voters will be able to vote on the 1/2% local general sales tax referendum on April 7, 2015
* Per the language in the referendum, all monies generated from this sales tax will be used specifically for stormwater management and infrastructure improvements only
* Per the language in the referendum, future Village Boards will NOT be authorized to re-direct any of the monies received through this sales tax
* Per the language in the referendum, future Village Boards will NOT have the authority to increase the tax rate percentage - it will remain at 1/2%
* The Stormwater-Infrastructure Sales Tax revenue source will grow as the economy grows
* Collection of a Stormwater-Infrastructure Sales Tax will be mostly administered through the State, thus, not creating a heavy burden on staff to collect the revenue
* The set-up of a Stormwater-Infrastructure Sales Tax, which may only take a few months, will be much easier compared to other options that were considered, thus allowing the Village to get started on working on Stormwater Management issues quickly if approved
* The Stormwater-Infrastructure Sales Tax direct impact to local businesses will be far less when compared to other options that were considered - Businesses will only be affected in terms of participating in the collection of the sales tax
* Residents and visitors will pay this tax (half a penny on the dollar) when making retail purchases in the community
* The Village currently has a Places For Eating Tax rate of 1.5%, which impacts about 125 businesses - the Stormwater-Infrastructure Sales Tax will be a tax in addition to the Places For Eating Tax for these businesses
* The vast majority of DuPage municipalities already have and benefit from a local general sales tax (Westmont currently does not)
* The majority of DuPage municipalities that have a local general sales tax has a rate of 1% or more; the Village of Westmont is proposing 1/2%, which is half of what most communities charge
* Purchases made in Westmont by non-residents will also contribute to this revenue stream
Adds Trustee Steve Nero, who chaired the Stormwater Committee, “It is important to make clear that if a new revenue stream is not identified and dedicated for stormwater management and infrastructure improvements, then the growing flood issues that we have seen over the past decade can not be addressed in the way we would like.”
If you have questions, please contact us at communications@westmont.il.gov or 630-417-0280. The Village encourages the entire community to get involved, learn about this important topic, and vote on April 7, 2015.
