Glen Ellyn renews tax districts quietly
With very little fanfare, the village of Glen Ellyn renewed several economic taxing districts and established two new ones that will provide funding for the Glen Ellyn Fire Protection District.
The quiet passing of the districts was in stark contrast to the meetings leading up to the districts' establishment, during which several residents spoke out against them causing village officials to redraw some of their boundaries.
"It was an excellent process," village President Mark Pfefferman said. "This year we pretty much started from ground zero."
The measure renewed five economic development districts, the largest of which runs down Roosevelt Road from the westernmost boundary of the village to Dominick's grocery store just east of Illinois Route 53.
Other districts include one that covers much of downtown, one at the southeast edge of Glen Ellyn, one just south and north of the intersection of St. Charles Road and Main Street and a four-property district at the corner of Roosevelt Road and Briar Street.
The five districts, which have been in existence since 1991 and were last renewed in 1999, are estimated to bring in $188,000 in revenue for the village next year, a six-percent increase over this year.
The downtown district's boundaries met some opposition at a September meeting. Residents who were included argued successfully that they received no more financial benefit than other downtown residents and should be removed.
An ordinance that will establish two districts in unincorporated areas north and south of town were also established. They are expected to result in about $189,151 in additional funding for the department next year. Glen Ellyn Fire Protection District Chief Scott Raffensparger said the districts will help pay for replacement of fire equipment and level the playing field for all residents who receive the department's coverage.
"We have been providing protection since as far as I can remember," he said. "Now, everybody shares in the expenses equally," he said.