Supporters, opponents square off over Wheaton taxing district

The push to create a new special taxing district in downtown Wheaton that would primarily fund an organization charged with promoting, maintaining and managing the downtown business district is in the homestretch.

But while supporters of the district said at a public hearing Monday that losing the Downtown Wheaton Association will damage an already struggling downtown and could lead to a mass exodus of business owners, opponents say the group provides them with few, if any, benefits and that the additional tax they pay to fund it should go away.

The end of the public hearing opens a 60-day period during which opponents can object to creation of the special taxing district by getting at least 51 percent of property owners and voters within the district to sign a petition.

With the expiration of an existing special service area coming on April 30, the Downtown Wheaton Association needs the new district to continue operating and approached city officials about it in June.

The proposal would fund the group for seven years and levy a tax of 45 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value on all property owners within the district. That is less than half of the 95 cents per $100 owners now pay. However, the new agreement also would require that the city divert all tax increment finance money to the group.

During Monday's hearing, supporters and opponents took turns making their pleas to the city council.

One property owner said her property should be removed from the district because the site will one day be home to several residential units. Another said tenants leave his buildings for other cities because the taxes restrict his ability to cut them any breaks on rent.

But supporters said the dissolution of the Downtown Wheaton Association would leave the city with less foot traffic, and that would affect the city's bottom line.

“If we don't have foot traffic we don't have businesses, and you guys don't get money from our businesses,” said Penny Zuidema, who owns Uptown Girl in downtown Wheaton. “Without the DWA, it'd be detrimental to all of our businesses.”

Jill Card, who owns Jeans & A Cute Top on Wesley Street, said she would likely leave town if the Downtown Wheaton Association dissolves.

But some repeated objections made throughout the summer, saying property owners who feel the downtown group is viable should pay for it themselves.

Ken Rezmer, who owns three properties on the 300 block of Main Street south of the railroad tracks, says he sees no benefits because most of the Downtown Wheaton Associations's activities take place north of the tracks. In fact, he said, those activities hurt his tenants because they take away parking for potential customers.

“We are treated like stepchildren,” Rezmer said. “We don't benefit from any of the events that take place on the north side of town, and it's unfair we have to contribute to things we don't benefit from.”