Prospect Hts. debates special tax to pay for levee
Prospect Heights may create a special taxing district to pay the city's share of construction and maintenance costs of a flood control levee on the Des Plaines River.
The $26 million Levee 37 project is primarily being funded with federal and state money, with Prospect Heights and Mount Prospect also making contributions.
The 8,500-foot long levee wall is being built on the east side of Milwaukee Avenue and River Road, from Palatine Road to Euclid Avenue.
Mayor Dolly Vole said Prospect Heights has already incurred a $350,000 debt in construction costs. The city is borrowing funds from another special service area intended to fund stormwater management costs to pay the levee costs.
So, Vole wants a new taxing district that would help pay the city's share of the project.
“We need to fulfill our obligations and have something in place going forward, Vole said.
In a special service district, residents and business who would benefit from a project are tagged to pay for it, instead of spreading the costs throughout the city.
On Monday, Prospect Heights aldermen voted 3-1 to approve proposed map boundaries of the special service area, which would be the city's eighth such district. It covers communities directly west of the levee wall between Palatine Road and Old Willow Road/Seminole Lane.
It also includes the 592-unit Quincy Park Condominiums, where residents are largely opposed to another special taxing area, said Alderman Bree Higgins, a staff worker for the condo association.
Higgins, who voted against the new map, said residents already pay the largest share of taxes in SSA 5 and get little in return.
“They will pay the lion's share of (SSA 8) and won't get any benefit, she complained. “We need to draw a line. We can't do this anymore. We don't want taxes raised again.
Project planners have said the levee would provide flood protection to more than 600 residential and business properties in Prospect Heights and Mount Prospect.
Construction on Levee 37 began in March 2009, and it is expected to be complete next summer.
Vole said a public hearing will be held on the possibility of establishing SSA 8.