Sleepy Hollow voters reject tax increase

Sleepy Hollow voters Tuesday rejected a request to increase property taxes by as much as 25%.

The request received 147 "yes" votes and 283 "no" votes, according to unofficial totals from the Kane County clerk's office.

It was the fourth time in seven years village officials sought to increase the limit on the property tax rate. Voters agreed in 2016 but said "no" in 2014 and 2015.

If it had been approved, and the full rate levied, the tax bill for a $300,000 house would increase by about $180 in the first year. The village would have collected almost $211,000 in additional revenue, starting in 2022.

Village officials, including President Stephan Pickett, have said the village needs more money to do keep up with the maintenance and replacement of roads, property and equipment. Pickett said recently that the tax increase would have "kept Sleepy Hollow going for another five or six years, maybe 10."