Wheaton property owners attempt to defeat tax

A Wheaton group believes it is close to defeating a special tax charged to downtown property owners and used to promote downtown businesses.

Businessman and property owner Glenn Kosirog filed a petition with what he believes is more than enough signatures with the city clerk Friday to prevent the city from renewing the tax at a rate of 45 cents per $100 of assessed value through 2019.

The current tax of 95 cents per $100 of assessed value expires in April 2012.

The new tax won't be created if at least 51 percent of people who reside and own land in the area signed the objection forms. Kosirog is confident he's got enough signatures.

“We had to make a big move because most property owners have been left with three choices: cut corners somehow, take out more debt or sell,” Kosirog said Friday after filing. “I've been here all my life so I chose to cut this corner. And I hope this holds people more accountable.”

Downtown Wheaton President Keven Graham hopes Kosirog doesn't have enough signatures.

“We've heard a lot of support from property owners and businesses,” he said. “We have a lot of good things happening here and we hope to continue that.”

Jim Kozec, the city director of planning and economic development, said he and City Clerk Sharon Barrett-Hagen will review the signatures Monday morning and make a recommendation to the city council prior to the Dec. 19 budget meeting.

“We're talking about the levy that night so if we're not going to have the tax, we need to know,” Kozec said.