Township to try for roads tax once more

Winfield Township will again ask voters on Feb. 5 for additional tax dollars to help bolster its road budget.

The tax-hike request is the fourth ballot measure in the last two years for the Winfield Township Road District, and the seventh in the last decade.

The township is seeking a 2-cent tax rate increase per $100 of equalized assessed valuation. If approved, the owner of a $300,000 house would pay an additional $20 next year to the township, officials estimate.

Highway Commissioner Joe Jedlovec said the additional dollars are needed to plan repair and improvement projects along the township's 48 miles of roadway in unincorporated portions of Warrenville, Winfield and West Chicago.

If approved, the funds would bolster the road district's $1 million budget by an additional $200,000.

Voters overwhelmingly shut down the exact same request in April 2007, April 2006 and November 2006, as well as three requests during the late 1990s.

Winfield Township

What: Winfield Township seeks tax increase for road maintenance in unincorporated portions of West Chicago, Winfield and Warrenville

Cost: About $20 for the owner of a $300,000 house

If it passes: The road district will bolster its $1 million budget by an additional $200,000 to maintain roads in unincorporated portions of Winfield, West Chicago and Warrenville.

If it fails: Winfield Township schedules maintenance projects on its roadways once every 14 or 15 years. If the tax hike request is rejected, township officials said residents should expect to see that cycle increase.

Details: (630) 231-8850 or www.winfieldtownship.com