Carpentersville trustees back down on campaign promise

The Carpentersville trustees and village president elected in April have backpedaled on a key campaign pledge to delay the construction of a multimillion dollar public works facility - and avoid a property tax increase to pay for it - until the economy improves.

The village board this week gave the go-ahead to begin work on a $12 million public works building on the village's east side. The previous village board purchased 28.5 acres at the corner of Wilmette Avenue and Tamarac Drive near the village's water treatment facility for $2.4 million as the future site of the public works facility.

Trustees said the village has about $1.1 million to cover the costs for the design and construction management services, but also said a property tax increase is likely needed to repay the estimated $22 million bond the village will need to complete the project. That figure also includes about $10 million the village will use to continue its street repair program.

Some residents say the decision is a retreat from an earlier position of trustees Bradford McFeggan, Patricia Schultz and Kay Teeter and Village President Ed Ritter.

Resident David Poweleit said the board's action Tuesday night was an example of trustees making a commitment to voters and then turning their backs.

"A campaign promise is sacred ground," Poweleit said. "I think if you make a promise you should stick to your guns because I voted for you based on what you said."

During the campaign, the candidates, members of the Carpentersville Cares slate, denounced then-village President Bill Sarto's support of a new facility. The second bullet of the slate's campaign flier emphasized "conservative finances, a balanced budget, maintain current tax rate."

"A $10- to $15 million public works facility as championed by our current president is not affordable now," the candidates wrote. "While we believe there is a need for a facility, taxpayers cannot shoulder the increased burden at this time; this issue should be revisited under an improved economy."

But now, waiting for the economy to recover would work against the taxpayers, McFeggan said.

The village needs to take advantage of historically low interest rates, construction costs and bond markets, as well as government rebates, he said.

"With these bad economic times ... there were a lot of incentives for providing a new facility and that was a major factor for me changing my mind." McFeggan said. "Yes, there will be a tax increase but not nearly as much as it will be if we wait a few years. Now really is the best time."

Ritter said he would not have supported the building if the economic situation had not shifted in favor of the village.

"People who say they are never going to do something are not being totally realistic," Ritter said. "Situations change and we have a circumstance that has changed the outlook of the project. I said I would not support it at this time and that time has passed. I am very fiscally conservative and I think now is the right time."

But resident John Vehrs said that reason does not hold water when there are families struggling to make ends meet in this economy.

"There will still be a tax increase," said Vehrs, who has lived in the village for five years. "There are people who are struggling to put cereal on the table and now they're going to have to pay more in property taxes. This is ridiculous."