Economy principal issue, West Dundee candidates say

Candidates for the West Dundee village board have their differences, but the five hopefuls agree on at least one thing: improving the village's financial health is the primary issue board members will face after the election.

The village began the 2008-2009 fiscal year in a $375,000 hole, and trustee candidates say finding creative ways to balance the budget - or at least close the deficit - are vital.

Steve Geati, one of three challengers taking on a pair of incumbents for three open board seats, said the budget deficit must be reduced before it negatively affects other areas of the village's health.

"The deficit is creating a downward spiral as far as bond interest rates, which impact services to residents, which then impacts property values," Geati said. "Reducing the deficit is the biggest issue."

Other candidates, though, say the village's dependency on sales tax revenues is a greater concern.

"The three most important issues the board faces are financial, financial, financial," incumbent Norm Osth said. "Our revenues are so tied to sales taxes that when the (national) economy hiccups, we hiccup a little and sometimes we burp."

The need to diversify the village's tax base is magnified by declining sales-tax dollars from Spring Hill Mall, the village's largest source of revenue.

Trustee Patrick Hanley, who is seeking his third term, said in the past few years Spring Hill Mall has dropped from generating about 60 percent of the village's sales tax revenue to about 30 percent.

Challengers Lisa Geisler and Julie Voss also cited the village's economy as a major concern, but offered different ideas for approaching it.

Geisler said the village must find a creative ways to revive its sales-tax base, while Voss said trimming excesses from the budget is needed.

"We need to look at the budget and look at what are wants and what are needs for our village," Voss said.