Councilman questions funding for downtown Wheaton group

A downtown Wheaton organization’s funding model is drawing fire from a city councilman who says the group should rely more on private donations as it looks to expand its scope.

Councilman Phil Suess said the city should reject the Downtown Wheaton Association’s request for extra money to pay for a fine art fair, a downtown consultant and some street projects.

“The point is, I appreciate the (group’s) efforts,” he said Monday. “But it has to be a voluntary organization. The people who perceive there is value with something, they are going to write a check.”

Most of the group’s operating budget comes from a special taxing district, as part of an agreement between the group and the city. Last year, the organization received $225,000.

That pact is set to expire in May and Downtown Wheaton officials asked it be extended through the end of the year. The special taxing district expires Dec. 31.

For the next fiscal year, the group has asked for $230,000 to cover operational expenses and an additional $60,000 to cover the extra projects. Funding for the first request would come from special service area money.

The extra money, however, would require dipping into funding from a tax increment financing district that essentially surrounds the special service area.

Although Suess said he would vote against the request, other council members said money from the taxing districts long has been earmarked for reinvestment downtown.

“We have to step back and distinguish that we are collecting property taxes of the owners and distributing it back to them,” Councilman Todd Scalzo said. “This was created by the property owners and they can terminate it.”

At Monday’s planning session, Downtown Wheaton Manager Noel Wiedman detailed the road projects, which include resealing portions of Front Street and aesthetic enhancements.

She said the group would apply any leftover money at the end of the year to the projects.

“The DWA has been quite fiscally responsible,” she said. “We do have money left over at the end of the year to work with the city to get some things done.”