Hawthorn Woods to ask taxpayers for police pension money

Hawthorn Woods will ask taxpayers on Tuesday to support a tax rate increase to fund police pensions, and shift that burden away from the general fund.

The village is required by state law to fund pensions, and officials say such a shift would ease stress on village finances and allow officials to earmark general fund money for other needs.

However, critics argue the village mismanaged finances, and now is not the time to ask taxpayers for help.

If passed, the referendum would create a property tax levy to generate $170,000 for the police pension fund. Homeowners would pay $11.67 per $100,000 of fair market value in the first year.

"This would be a burden lifted from the general fund ... It would certainly be a component of the cure we are after," said Joseph Mancino, who is running unopposed for mayor and supports the referendum.

If taxpayers foot the bill for the police pension fund, money freed up in the general fund may help the village hire a new administrator.

However, village resident Chris Donovan is wary of the village's financial stability. A $100,000 bill awarded to the police department in an arbitration case, a vacant village administrator position and multiple lawsuits are ailing Hawthorn Woods.

"The village has prioritized incorrectly," Donovan said. "Because they have mismanaged the general fund, the police pensions are short."

Trustee candidate John Schaefges agreed the general fund was mismanaged, but supports the referendum because the village is required to allocate money for police pensions.

Mancino said financial problems are not the reason the referendum question is on the ballot, adding the village previously asked the same question during good economic times.

"This question has nothing to do with lawsuits or past financial mismanagement or any debt the village may carry," he said.