Bartlett church decries DuPage flood-control fee

Parishioners with a Bartlett church made a pre-emptive strike today against paying new fees for flood-control.

DuPage County leaders are considering switching from property taxes to a user fee to fund flood-control projects.

Instead of just affecting property owners, tax-exempt entities such as school districts, non-profits and churches would be required to contribute as well.

At the same time, the county is looking at instituting extra charges on new development to meet provisions of the U.S. Clean Water Act.

Members of Faith World Outreach Church who showed up during a stormwater planning committee meeting objected to both proposals.

"This is an attempt to defeat the tax cap," parishioner Debbie Faldstein said. "It sets a dangerous precedent -- I'm very concerned for churches and non-profits."

"It is infringing on the rights of property owners and inhibiting property owners," Andrew Weiss said.

Church member Tom Chung said the plan failed to recognize the separation of church and state.

"Why suddenly, when the county needs money, is it convenient to go to the churches?" Chung asked. "This thing needs to die and die today."

Board member and stormwater chairman Jim Zay assured residents the proposals haven't been voted on and are still in the early stages.

"This is still being studied," he said.

The user fee option would cost between $4 and $5 per 500 feet of paved surface. A household might pay $26 to $29 a year, while a large church could pay $4,500. The county's stormwater program is seriously under-funded, officials say.

The extra charge on new development could total $3,000 an acre or $750 a quarter-acre. Or in lieu of fees, property owners could build features such as bioswales, a small area with vegetation that absorbs pollution from stormwater runoff.

The ultimate goal, county engineers say, is cleaner water.