East Dundee residential fix-up program back on

East Dundee has received the $57,000 in video gaming revenue it was owed by the state, allowing a village residential improvement program to start up again.

The program, created as an incentive for residents to make exterior upgrades to their properties, had been on hiatus since July when Gov. Bruce Rauner's office announced the state was suspending paying municipalities' shares of video gambling money.

Video gambling profits are divided among the state, the establishments and their municipalities. East Dundee typically receives upward of $9,000 per month from its 10 video gambling locations.

Village officials budgeted that revenue specifically for the residential facade program, Village Administrator Bob Skurla said.

As part of the program, applicants could receive up to $5,000 from the village in matching funds for home improvement projects, such as landscaping, window or shutter upgrades, exterior house painting and porch repairs.

Residential property values went up 6.5 percent in the past year after falling 40 percent over eight years, Skurla said.

"We want to keep that trend going by improving the exterior of homes," he said. "Our theory is, when you have a neighborhood that looks attractive, homes can now start appreciating and selling for more."

But when the funds weren't coming in, Skurla said, officials had no choice but to halt the projects.

According to the Illinois Gaming Board, the village's video gaming receipts amounted to $68,590 since its fiscal year began in May. The state owed the village roughly $57,000 of that amount, Skurla said.

However, earlier this month, Rauner signed a bill to release millions of dollars in local funding, and East Dundee's money had been reimbursed in full as of Monday, Skurla said.

When the residential facade program was halted, the village had accepted 10 project applications from residents, most of whom will likely begin work in the spring, Economic Development Director Doug Bergren said.

The lack of funds didn't stop some residents from making home improvements on their own, Skurla said, noting that they are now eligible to file for reimbursement.

The residential facade program was the only village initiative that was affected by the state's budget impasse, he added.

"In recent years, we have tried to de-emphasize on sources of revenue coming from the state," Skurla said. "We just knew that if you can control where your revenues are coming from, then you can depend on them, and you aren't subject to the whims of Springfield."