Wheeling officials aim not to raise property taxes in 2012

As the village of Wheeling is beginning preliminary budget discussions for 2012, trustees said their early goal is to pass a budget without increasing residential taxes.

Trustee Dave Vogel said he has gotten an early look at the budget, which will be discussed in-depth at the Oct. 29 budget meeting, and asked fellow trustees to agree not to increase the tax levy.

“I realize we are going to be told that we need at least a 5.5 percent increase to cover debt obligations,” Vogel said. “But my feeling is that we are going to have to find that 5.5 percent somewhere else.”

He said even though the village makes up only a small part of a resident’s tax bill, he wants to start somewhere.

Trustee Dean Argiris said his ultimate goal is always to have a 0 percent tax increase, but that if the board is serious about it this year, they will need to have difficult discussions with the staff about cuts.

“Three years ago we did it and the staff hated us for it, but we did it,” he said. “We’ll see what happens at budget time.”

Trustee Bill Hein encouraged the board and staff to think creatively about ways to generate revenue.

“We’ve been through these real tough times before, but this one is a hummer,” Hein said. “The little people are getting hurt.”

Trustee Robert Heer said his constiuents are tired of paying more taxes in general.

“No one likes to pay more taxes, neither do I,” he said.

On Oct. 29 the board will discuss the budget and keep the residents’ concerns in mind, said Village President Judy Abruscato.

“The staff has worked very hard on the budget and at the meeting we’ll do our job and do what’s best for the community,” she said.