Residents ask Wheaton council not to raise property taxes

Wheaton City Council members got an earful Monday night from residents concerned about a plan to increase the city's property tax levy by nearly 7 percent.

A group of homeowners urged the council not to use higher property taxes to address a projected $1.5 million deficit in next year's city budget.

"There are costs that can be cut," resident Kristen Seely said. "Everybody else is tightening their belts in this economy. Governments have to learn to do so, too."

The council is expected to vote on Dec. 21 to establish its property tax levy, which is the share of the budget paid for by property owners.

As part of the proposal being considered, Wheaton's tax levy request would be set at $18.1 million, including $3.5 million for debt service. That total is almost 7 percent more than what the city could collect this year.

The requested levy would increase Wheaton's rate from roughly 76 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to about 79 cents. Under that scenario, the owner of a $300,000 house would pay about $28 more per year to the city.

But resident Michael Kinkley said he already has seen his property taxes "climb pretty dramatically" in the 21 years he's lived in Wheaton. In these tough economic times, he said, the city should be reducing the levy, not increasing it.

Council members responded by pointing out that factors beyond the city's control - mostly the rising cost of wages and pensions - contributed to the projected deficit in the 2010-11 budget.

At the same time, Councilman Phil Suess said revenues from the income tax and sales tax have noticeably declined compared to last year.

"People are concerned about the real estate taxes, and I appreciate that," Suess said. "I am as well. I pay real estate taxes.

"But part of this issue is that revenues are down given what's happened with respect to the economy," he added. "And where do we get it to fund the basic services?"

The council is exploring a variety of cuts and other sources of revenue to make up for the shortfall before the next fiscal year begins May 1, 2010.

Mayor Michael Gresk told the crowd the next round of budget cuts will be "painful" and "obvious."

He said, "You will see a degradation - a decline - in your services."