Mayor says Bloomingdale 'up for the challenge' of struggling economy

Bloomingdale's immediate future is mixed with hope and concern, Village President Bob Iden said Thursday during his State of the Village address.

Speaking to about 50 members of the Bloomingdale Chamber of Commerce, Iden was frank about the village's financial woes, which include a $1.7 million budget shortfall for the coming fiscal year. Officials have said the crunch is due to a mix of falling sales and property tax revenues.

"Sales tax was the engine that kept the village going for many years and that's flattened out a bit," Iden said. "So what we need to do is be creative. We will have to do things that five years ago we wouldn't have even thought about."

Bloomingdale's newest option for boosting revenue - implementing a telecommunications tax - will be up for vote before the village board on Monday. The tax would charge 5 percent on the gross amount of home phone, cell phone and Internet service bills, and officials say projected annual revenues would be $1.5 million.

Iden said Bloomingdale is one of the last remaining towns in DuPage County that doesn't already charge such a tax, and the village still does not charge a utility tax or food and beverage tax. If it passes, the charges take effect July 1.

In addition, Bloomingdale will add a 1-cent increase to its current 1-cent gas tax.

"We have cut as many things as we have been able to do," Iden said. "Now we must look at diversified revenues that we haven't looked at in 20 years."

One difficult cut officials made was canceling the 2010 Family Fest, which typically happens each summer. They are still considering whether to maintain the annual Septemberfest, he said.

"As choices became more scarce, the tough decision was to suspend it, but not forever," said Iden.

But new businesses opening in Bloomingdale are a bright spot, he added. Several new restaurants, most of them independent, either opened recently or are set to open within weeks. They are: Orchid Restaurant; Ballydoyle Irish Pub; Five Guys Burger and Fries; Dino's Cafe; Legends Sports Bar and Grill; and Anyways Pub.

In addition, the Walmart on Army Trail Road will soon expand into a Super Walmart and include a grocery section.

Other economic development happening in Bloomingdale includes the April 22 grand opening of the Alden Garden Supported Living Community on Army Trail Road. And new owners have upgraded the Picture Show movie theater with new seats and design, enhanced projection and sound, and a recession-friendly price of $1.75 admission for all movies.

Iden said he also expects Bloomingdale to see more business development in coming years, as western access to O'Hare International Airport becomes a reality. Last Monday, all municipalities affected by the project passed a resolution supporting it.

"We agreed to agree and even communities like Elk Grove Village and Bensenville are finally on board," Iden said. "When you have western access into O'Hare, you're going to have some economic development as you did coming out to the east. It won't be the same intensity as the city of Chicago, but it will help."

Federal grants for road repairs are another money-saving key for Bloomingdale, Iden said. The village also applied for grants to help with several water projects, but they have not yet been approved.

"I think we're all hopeful that I can stand here next year and say we're better off than we were 12 months ago," said Iden. "One of the tough parts is balancing where we've been and where we need to go. But I'm up for the challenge."