Fox Lake mayoral hopefuls disagree on how to beef up sales tax revenue

The three candidates running for Fox Lake mayor agree something needs to be done to offset a loss of sales tax money.

However, incumbent Cindy Irwin and challengers Ed Bender and Alberta Meyer disagree on what steps should be taken done to bolster revenue to fend off an increase in property taxes and potential village layoffs.

The three are vying to become the next mayor in the village's April 7 municipal election. The term is for four years.

Irwin is the current mayor, taking over after beating former mayor Nancy Koske in 2005. Bender currently is the longest tenured trustee on the village board, having served for the last 8 years. Meyer was a trustee who served in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but stepped aside after moving to Arizona in 1999. She returned roughly 5 years ago, she said.

The current recession has taken its toll on the village due to a decline in car and boat sales - the two highest sales tax revenue generators. Village officials said sales tax revenue has plummeted by nearly 8 percent in 2008.

Irwin said village department heads have been cutting the budgets as much as possible, but added new businesses need to come to the village.

"We talk to people every day about coming here to open a business, but the economy is so bad that people just can't do it," she said. "So, right now, all we can do is continue to cut nonessentials to offset the loss."

Meyer not only wants to cut spending, but also wants to sell nonessential facilities like the village-owned Lion's Club to help boost the general fund.

"I was against the purchase of that building when it first came up, and now it sits there empty," she said. "We need to stop spending and tighten our belts. If we did that before, we'd have a surplus of money waiting for a rainy day like this."

Bender said his goal is to go over the budget and the audits line-by-line to cut any and all superfluous expenditures in town. Then, he said, he plans to attract new business to ensure the town doesn't rely solely on future car and boat sales.

"The current administration said four years ago their goal was to bring in new business, but they haven't done it," he said. "We need to get out there and let businesses know Fox Lake is a great town. And, if I'm elected, I will get out there and make sure businesses know Fox Lake wants them."