Villa Park's home rule bid comes down to trust

Villa Park officials want to rule their own destiny.

They'll ask residents in February for approval to return to the home rule status voters stripped from the village in 1980.

While that would enable the board to raise taxes in a variety of ways, officials say that's not at all why they're asking for the privilege. They want to crack down on bad landlords, run-down rental properties and crime.

Home rule gives municipalities greater latitude in creating local laws.

And as for raising taxes, officials say they plan to make a pledge to voters.

They'll approve an ordinance vowing to observe the property tax cap even after home rule goes into effect.

"We're not in it for the money. That's the key thing," Trustee John Davis said Tuesday. "We're strictly in it to clean up the town."

He acknowledges the move will have its detractors, which is why trustees are addressing concerns head-on.

"That's where abuse (with home rule) can be -- in raising of taxes," Davis said. "We're taking it straight off the table."

Trustees voted unanimously Monday night to place a home rule referendum on the Feb. 5 ballot. They also asked to see an ordinance regarding property tax restrictions at their meeting Dec. 10.

The problem, tax critic James Tobin said, is such ordinances aren't binding. Any future board could vote to revoke it.

"This is basically a tax grab and I hope the voters defeat it, and I stand at the ready to help defeat it," said Tobin, of National Taxpayers United of Illinois.

But Villa Park trustees point to other municipalities that made similar property tax pledges: Oakbrook Terrace and Warrenville. To date, both have maintained them.

Oakbrook Terrace, though, added a 1 percent sales tax in 2006 on everything but food, drugs and automobiles, City Administrator Martin Bourke said. Proceeds go to a capital improvement fund for new city buildings.

Residents didn't protest the increase, he said, likely because they realized it was aimed at shoppers who don't live in the city.

Warrenville officials told residents up-front they'd boost the sales tax. Since adding home rule, they've also added property maintenance ordinances, Mayor David Brummel said, but they've kept their pledge to bypass property tax hikes.

"I understand that's one of the fears people have, 'If you give them the power, they'll go nuts'," Brummel said.

"I think your citizens have to trust elected officials substantially to grant them home rule," he said.

That's where Tobin has issues with home rule.

"I wouldn't trust them any further than I can throw them," he said. "The whole reason for home rule is to raise taxes without a referendum."

Trustee Tom Cullerton disagrees.

He said the village wants to get connected with the International Crime Free Association, which has suggestions for cleaning up problem rental properties. And the heavier restrictions afforded by home rule can help Villa Park lay down the law with landlords, he said.

It's up to future voters to make sure they elect leaders who will toe the line on this board's property tax pledge, Cullerton said.

Villa Park plans to start holding public information meetings about the referendum in January.