Prospect Heights expected to vote on home rule ballot referendum Monday

Prospect Heights aldermen could vote Monday to put a referendum on the November ballot seeking home-rule status.

If the city council approves the resolution, voters will decide this fall whether to grant the city home-rule authority, which gives municipalities the ability to create property taxes, keep more of its revenue and establish further oversight on issues such as zoning, sanitation, nuisance abatement and some criminal offenses.

Under state law, any community with 25,000 or fewer residents is not automatically a home-rule municipality. The city's population was estimated at 16,180 in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Prospect Heights leaders sought home-rule status in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 elections, each time failing largely because of fears over property taxes. However, supporters have gained more votes in each election, with nearly 46 percent in favor of home rule in 2012.

City leaders have said gaining home-rule authority is not part of an effort impose a property tax. Rather, aldermen and city leaders say residents are losing out on an estimated $750,000 annually, which could be used for paving streets, improving flood control and hiring more police officers.

The majority of that money comes from hotel tax revenue that the city must return to hotels and motels to be used solely for tourism-related projects. With home rule, Prospect Heights could choose how to spend the money. In addition, a lack of home rule means a strict cap on the cost for video gaming licenses.

The deadline for the city to pass a resolution for a November referendum is Aug. 20.

The city council meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday at 8 N. Elmhurst Road.