Stormwater funding divides DuPage chairman candidates

DuPage officials know what could be done to alleviate flooding throughout the county.

The problem, they say, is DuPage simply doesn't have the money it would take to pay for all the infrastructure improvements on its wish list.

“There's just not enough resources to address the stormwater projects that are needed,” DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin said.

Cronin and his Democratic opponent in the Nov. 4 election — Robert Peickert — have differing views on how the county could raise additional dollars for stormwater projects.

Peickert, chairman of the DuPage Democratic Party, cited flooding as one of his main issues during a recent Daily Herald endorsement interview. “We have an antiquated system to take and clear this water out,” the Elmhurst resident said.

DuPage's stormwater projects are funded with money raised through property taxes. Peickert said the county might need to consider increasing the property tax levy.

“Maybe the best way to do it (raise money for stormwater projects) is to increase the tax,” Peickert said, adding the levy has remained flat for several years.

Cronin opposes a property tax increase.

“You've got (homeowners) living on high, dry ground paying property taxes to subsidize stormwater projects in other parts of the county,” the Elmhurst Republican said. “Maybe that's not fair.”

The candidates also disagree on a possible alternative.

Last year, state lawmakers gave DuPage the authority to charge a stormwater utility fee. So far, no decision has been made on whether the county will impose the fee.

If adopted, it would charge property owners based on use. Those who have more stormwater leaving their land would pay a higher fee. Anyone with land producing less runoff would pay a lower fee.

“I am not pursuing it,” Cronin said of the utility fee.

Still, Cronin says he believes the issue is worth discussing.

“The new law offers an option with merit worth exploring,” Cronin wrote in a Daily Herald candidate questionnaire. “The real question here is: do we continue to fund stormwater management through a property tax, or do we replace that system with a 'user fee' funded system.”

However, resistance to the idea is expected to come from schools, churches and other tax-exempt entities that would be required to pay the fee.

Peickert is joining others in labeling the utility fee a “rain tax.”

“If you put it to a referendum, my guess is people are going to say no,” Peickert said.

Cronin said enacting a utility fee would make it possible to have charges for stormwater projects removed from the property tax bill.

Cronin said the county already has done a preliminary review of how much it would cost homeowners in Naperville if the stormwater portion of the property tax bill was replaced with a utility fee.

“Folks in the city of Naperville would actually save money,” he said. ”The average homeowner would pay less.”

Even if a stormwater fee is adopted, DuPage would spend two years doing public outreach and education before sending out the first bill.