Taxes, data centers top issues in Kane Board District 5 race

The race for the District 5 seat on the Kane County Board matches Democrat Philip Silagi and incumbent Republican Bill Lenert.

Silagi, 73, of Aurora, said residents are concerned about tax fairness, data centers and managing local water resources.

“ In general, everybody can agree that taxes are high but at the same time, local governments need revenue in order to serve the public,” he said. “The problem is, I don’t think local governments are too wasteful at the county level as 70% of the budget goes to public safety, the Sheriff’s Department and the court system. You’re not going to cut that out. At least 30% goes to the county — employees need raises — everybody understands that.”

Data centers remain an issue, he said, noting voters “are opposed to data centers in general.”

“People talk about noise pollution, water consumption and electricity consumption,” he said.

Water management, Silagi said, is also an issue.

“There’s been some concern all over Kane County where water is a big issue — Montgomery, Oswego, everywhere people are paying more money for water which is expensive and I think they want to preserve resources and want things respectfully done. That’s important,” he said.

If elected, Silagi said he wants to work on tax fairness with the legislature as well as be responsive to his constituents.

“Definitely to the extent that anything can be done at the county level about taxpayer fairness — I’d like to work with legislators in Springfield and get some common sense,” he said. “Funding for schools — that’s what is dragging the taxes — the school portion is the largest.”

Lenert, 74, of Sugar Grove, is seeking his fourth term on the county board and like his opponent, said taxes, water resources and data centers are the issues concerning voters.

“Voters don’t want property tax increases and for 12 years on the board now, I have voted ‘no’ for property tax increases,” he said. “At the county, I don’t think we have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem.

“As chairman of the Finance Committee we have reduced spending by a total of 15% over each of the last two years. A sales tax referendum failed and taxpayers are telling me they are tired of being one of the highest tax districts in the county and they don’t want increases,” he said.

In regards to water, Lenert said the issue “is also tied in with these data centers.”

“(The voters) are very concerned that these data centers are going to sap a lot of our water reserves,” he said. “In fact, that’s not really the case.

“It was a valid point two years ago but now it’s not so valid,” he added.

If reelected, Lenert said he wants to work on goals with the Forest Preserve District and continue to focus on public safety.

“I’m president of the Forest Preserve and my goal with them is our mission: to maintain and improve the land we own and to purchase additional land, which we are now doing,” he said.

“I want to continue to make sure that we have our county safe,” he added. “In other words, that we have the proper sheriff and deputy sheriff protection, the proper legal system and that our jails are kept up and maintained and handle all those detainees with respect.”

David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.