Fox Lake loses Chrysler/Dodge dealership

The economy has dealt another blow to the already dwindling sales tax revenue collected in the village of Fox Lake.

The Dodge/Chrysler dealership that has been a Fox Lake mainstay for more that 10 years officially shut its doors two weeks ago, said Fox Lake Mayor Cindy Irwin, not only wiping out more sales tax revenue, but also leaving another large, open property on busy Route 12.

"Obviously, we aren't happy about it at all," she said. "But, this is something that is going on everywhere, in every town across the nation."

Automakers announced U.S. car sales fell to 13.2 million in 2008, down 18 percent from 16.1 million in 2007. Chrysler LLC performed as one of the worst, selling 53 percent fewer vehicles than last December and 30 percent fewer in 2008 than in 2007.

Irwin said the closing of the Fox Lake showroom - coupled with sagging boat sales last summer - has put a serious dent into the village's sales tax revenue.

Fox Lake Village Administrator Nancy Schuer said sales tax revenue was down about 7.5 in 2008, but could not estimate how much that amount translated to in dollars.

"It's devastating for our economy," Irwin said. "Car and boat sales are a huge portion of our annual sales tax, and with the economy the way it is, we're hurting."

Trustee Ed Bender, who will oppose Irwin in the April 2009 Mayoral election, said while the economy is down, Irwin should shoulder part of the blame.

"She isn't business oriented, and hasn't been since she took office," he said. "She can blame the economy all she wants, but the fact of the matter is, we weren't in a recession the first three years she was in office and she did nothing to bring in business then."

Irwin said she has been meeting with businesses routinely for the past year and, with members of the village staff, and is doing what she can to drum up new business and additional sales revenue.

"Just like every other community, times are tough right now," she said. "New construction is down, car and boat dealers are down. The economy is bad. But, we are doing everything possible to keep our heads above water and come out of this."