Village of Westmont
Date Issued: April 6, 2015
The Village encourages all Westmont citizens to become informed and vote on the Stormwater-Infrastructure 1/2% Sales Tax Referendum, which voters will consider on April 7, 2015. Stormwater management has been a priority topic in the community for several years. The referendum that voters will consider focuses on two main factors that were the basis of the recommendation made by residents serving on the Stormwater Committee: first, stormwater management needs a dedicated revenue source to address community stormwater-infrastructure concerns; and second, the revenue source needs to be on-going so that there will continue to be funds for future maintenance. Following are some of the key points regarding the referendum:
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
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?
Trustee Steve Nero, who chaired the Stormwater Committee, said “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.
