Larson says tax proposal by Costin is 'campaign rhetoric'

At first, Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson said he remained unsure if the village would ever adopt an ordinance proposed during Tuesday's board meeting by campaign foe Brian Costin.

“Certainly it will come up for some discussion,” Larson said. “But I can't read the minds of my fellow trustees, we might have a whole new set of trustees.”

But when pressed further, Larson shook his head and said he wondered how the ordinance would be enforced.

“It's campaign rhetoric and it's campaign season, so he's campaigning,” Larson said.

Costin, who's vying to unseat Larson on April 5, wants all village-proposed tax increases to go through voter referendums. Costin's proposed ordinance specifies property tax increases that extend over the federal cost of inflation. Costin said Schaumburg has been hurt by his count of 15 tax hikes over the last decade.

“Enough is enough. We need protection from future tax increases and a method to repeal old tax increases that are unnecessary,” Costin said.

The open-endedness of Costin's proposal irked Larson.

“It's called bringing government to a halt,” Larson said. “According to this, every fee increase would have to go to referendum.”

The board voted to refer Costin's proposal, which he dubbed the Schaumburg Taxpayers Protection Act, for discussion at the Finance, Legal, Administration, General Government committee meeting in April. That didn't sit too well with Costin, who noted that meeting would occur after the election. He said his proposal could have been discussed at the February or March FLAGG meetings.

“These delay tactics are another missed opportunity to stand up for Schaumburg taxpayers and a way to avoid accountability until after the election,” Costin said.

As an Illinois home-rule community, municipalities like Schaumburg receive broader taxing powers, allowing boards to raise taxes without voter input. A village becomes home ruled either by referendum or when its population rises over 25,000. The Illinois Municipal League counts 203 home-rule communities in the state.

Advocates say the added taxing powers are helpful for communities with a large retail sales tax base, often buoyed by shopping centers. Schaumburg fits that profile with amenities including the Woodfield Shopping Center.

“I think we've been very judicious, as far as taxes are concerned,” Larson said of the village's use of home-rule taxing powers.

There have been few cases when voters have decided to repeal home rule. Rockford is one such case.

Costin said as a home-rule community, Schaumburg officials have failed to take advantage of asking for voter input on any tax increases.

“I've spoken to many Schaumburg citizens, especially those who spoke at the property-tax hearings, who feel like the Schaumburg government doesn't listen to the citizens of the community, and that no matter what they people say or want the village board to do they're going to do what they want anyway.” Costin said.