No new Nicor tax for Pingree Grove

A move to impose a new gas utility tax in Pingree Grove residents has gone nowhere.

On Monday night, the village board decided against adding the tax, which would have been placed on Nicor bills and brought another estimated $63,000 into the cash-strapped village's coffers every year, Village Manager Scott Hartman said.

Some trustees wanted to reduce expenses before taxing residents and others didn't feel right levying a tax that wouldn't provide a direct service to the residents.

Trustees Ricky Popilek and Larry Gillie were the only ones who supported the tax.

Pingree Grove officials have made a series of dramatic cuts, including staff layoffs, pay cuts, event cancellations and furlough days to bring the $1.5 budget down to $1.28 million, which is more in line with available revenue.

Officials have acknowledged that those reductions won't be enough and plan on using impact fees to plug the remaining deficit, which now stands at $225,000.

Trustees are scheduled to discuss the budget for a final time Monday night during a committee of the whole meeting at the village hall.