Special funds may be cut in Glen Ellyn

Community groups that have relied on funding from the village of Glen Ellyn likely will have to make do with less cash this year.

The village is expecting a $275,000 deficit in its special programs fund budget. On Monday, nine groups - including the Fourth of July committee, Glen Ellyn Youth & Family Counseling and the Downtown Glen Ellyn Alliance - made funding requests totaling about $250,000. The DuPage Senior Citizens Council, for example, said it delivers 12,000 meals to residents of Glen Ellyn alone. The cost per meal is $8 and the council was asking for $32,535 from the village.

Village President Vicky Hase said the board will take all the requests into consideration and make a decision during final budget talks.

"Recognize that it is a tough time for us," she said. "This year's going to be very tough for all of us."

The meeting also was preceded by demonstrations outside village hall by Glen Ellyn business owners opposed to a proposed sales tax increase, another of the measures being pursued by the board to make up for a $2.6 million deficit in the coming budget year.

The business owners are hoping to delay the sales tax vote until after April, since incoming board members have said they would not support it.

However, the village board will decide the matter March 30, just days before the April 1 state deadline to enact an increase from 7.25 percent to 8.25 percent.

Kathryn Hudson, owner of Knickers of Glen Ellyn, said the businesses want a chance to create their own stimulus in Glen Ellyn over the next few months.

"This is something that's going to go on and on for our customers," Hudson said of the tax increase.