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New Naperville mayor could change special events grant

The fund that supports festivals and cultural activities in Naperville could be in for a shake-up depending on who wins the race to be the city's next mayor.

During a forum Thursday, candidates Jim Haselhorst and Marty Walker proposed changes to the way the city administers the grants it gives from a 1 percent food and beverage tax to organizers of special events and cultural amenities.

Haselhorst, a 55-year-old dental practice manager, said SECA should go back to its roots. When the fund was established in 2005, he said it served as a means to help organizations cover the cost of city services needed to host festivals, races, charity walks and other events. Some grantees have gotten away from that practice, he said while speaking before about 200 people at a Rotary Club of Naperville forum.

“Some of these funds are not being used solely to counter the cost of services,” Haselhorst said. “I think we need to go back to that original model.”

Walker, a 62-year-old retired firefighter, countered by saying he wants to expand the money available for cultural events and activities. The city caps the amount of food and beverage tax it will give through SECA grants at $2 million. A quarter of revenue from the tax goes to public safety pensions, $500,000 supports social service grants and anything extra is used to pay down long-term pension obligations.

“I am very proud of our SECA fund in the city of Naperville. We are very unique when it comes to any such fund,” Walker said. “If we bring in $3 million for SECA, it should be used specifically for special events and cultural amenities. Every dollar should go to those events.”

Candidate Doug Krause, a 67-year-old real estate broker and city council member, said the special events funding process should be reviewed to ensure all events applying for funding take place in Naperville and none of the grant money is used to pay salaries.

He also said a review should determine whether the city is recouping the actual cost of providing police, fire and public works services to event organizers and whether some events could become self-sufficient and no longer need city money.

“I will ask the SECA committee to review these questions,” Krause said.

The factors Krause wants reviewed are already part of the application process, which candidate Steve Chirico says has been improved since the time he served on the commission that reviews SECA requests.

Chirico, a 54-year-old business owner and city council member, also said the way the city splits up the food and beverage tax revenue between special events and cultural amenities, pensions and social services is “a prudent financial decision.”

“It is a very thorough process,” Chirico said. “This board does a good job of objectively trying to evaluate all the organizations that apply.”

The four candidates are squaring off in the election April 7 to replace George Pradel, who is stepping down after 20 years.

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  Naperville mayoral candidate Steve Chirico answers a question about sustainable energy Thursday during a forum hosted by the Rotary Club of Naperville while candidate Jim Haselhorst prepares to go next. Candidates Doug Krause and Marty Walker also participated in the forum. Marie Wilson/mwilson@dailyherald.com
  Naperville mayoral candidate Doug Krause, left, answers a question while candidate Marty Walker waits his turn Thursday during a mayoral candidate forum moderated by ABC7's Alan Krashesky. The Rotary Club of Naperville sponsored the forum, which also included candidates Steve Chirico and Jim Haselhorst. Marie Wilson/mwilson@dailyherald.com
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