Geneva looking at fee increases, new charges, taxes
The number of times the Geneva Fire Department has been called to Delnor Hospital was incorrect in an article published March 1. It has been called about 400 times over the past five years.
Few things are off the table for discussion when it comes to finding more money for Geneva city services, aldermen decided Monday.
Video gambling is one of them.
Asking Northwestern Medicine's Delnor Hospital to pay something, in lieu of property taxes, is not, despite a strong objection from Mayor Kevin Burns. "I am 100 percent opposed to this," Burns said.
Fire Chief Steve Olson said firefighters and paramedics have been called there more than 400 times in the past five years. A large portion of the property is not taxed, as it is considered to provide a public benefit, according to Illinois law.
The village of Winfield negotiated payments out of Delnor's sister hospital, Central DuPage, recently.
"To say that it (the Winfield deal) was acrimonious is an understatement," Burns said. "It was a Pyrrhic victory" that has ruined the previously good relationship between the hospital and village leaders, he said.
But eight of 10 aldermen said the matter should at least be discussed.
He said if the city were to pursue the idea, other exempt properties, such as the headquarters of Northern Illinois Food Bank, should be included, to be fair. But Alderman Mary Seno - who works at Delnor - pointed out that Delnor likely has more calls for service. She abstained from voting, however.
According to city administrator Mary McKittrick, about 30 percent of the land in Geneva is exempt from property taxes. Most of it is designated for government or hospital use, she said.
The discussion by the council was generated by a list of 33 ways to increase revenue, by raising and implementing various fees and taxes, as administrators prepare to submit a tentative budget for fiscal year 2016-17 to the council in March.
Some could be plugged in to the budget; others would need more research. Most would still need individual votes to be done.
Major sources could include creating a downtown business district and implementing a 1 percent sales tax in it. The council will discuss that Tuesday evening. McKittrick estimates that could raise about $750,000 annually.
Another is a 2 percent "places for eating" tax. That would be charged on food and beverages bought at restaurants. It could raise an estimated $500,000.
The list also included cuts in spending, including the $140,000 payment to the Geneva Chamber of Commerce and the $44,000 spent annually on crossing guards.
The list did not address the utility funds, which are supported by charges to customers.