Vehicle fund may forego tax increases in Naperville

The Naperville City Council has delayed a vote on proposed tax increases.

Councilmen on Tuesday said they need more time to decide whether to use $1.7 million from the city's vehicle replacement fund to close the city's budget gap in lieu of some of the tax hikes they were considering.

The council just learned of the surplus money during a Monday workshop. Councilmen have been working to fill the last of what was once a $14.1 million shortfall for the fiscal year that begins May 1.

The proposal on the table for filling the city's shortfall calls for adding 3 cents to the 2-cent-per-gallon gas tax, which would generate $2.1 million. It also calls for implementing a $3.50 monthly fee for garbage collection that would generate $1.68 million.

The third component to the revenue plan is to divert money collected from the 1 percent citywide food and beverage tax to the city's general fund. That money currently funds Special Events and Cultural Amenities grants.

Councilmen will discuss revenue when they meet again at 7 p.m. March 15.