Warrenville owed more than correction

I was dismayed at the article, “In 5 years, 82 suburbs’ property tax take rose,” listing Warrenville in the 10 highest property tax spikes. This is misleading, with the false and inflammatory implication that Warrenville raised its property tax rates during difficult economic times, possibly through its home rule authority.

Warrenville gained home rule in 2004, committed to remain under the property tax cap and honored that commitment. The writer, looking only at 2006-2010 tax extension figures, failed to acknowledge Warrenville’s increase is largely due to the Cantera development.

Cantera, a former quarry, is a successful development through the use of a Tax Increment Financing district. The TIF closed in 2010, and the increased property tax revenue went to the city’s general fund. Cantera is responsible for 77 percent of the city’s increased property tax dollars. The remaining 22 percent is from other new development property value growth plus property tax increases under the tax cap.

So the large increase in your chart is largely attributed to skillful economic development, careful planning and successful public-private partnership, which increased revenue without placing any additional burden on existing property owners. The city should be commended, not chastised for nonexistent tax spikes.

Staff contacted the writer about the misleading article to provide clarification. While the Daily Herald printed a “correction,” it did nothing to give context to the original article.

More shockingly, is this columnist previously covered Warrenville, and knew better. I question the journalistic integrity of printing articles that are not fully researched or fact-checked.

In the future, we would appreciate such articles be fully researched based on the facts, and that any misleading information be clarified and corrected.

David L. Brummel

Mayor of Warrenville