Villa Park voters shoot down roadwork bond issue

Voters in Villa Park today chose their pocketbooks over pothole repairs.

With 100 percent of the vote in, voters turned down a $27.5 million bond issue to fix the village's worst side streets with 56 percent opposed and 44 percent in favor, according to unofficial results. The bond issue would have cost the owner of a $250,000 home an extra $199 in property taxes annually for 20 years.

The plan was the most ambitious and expensive of the proposals the village board considered, but Village President Tom Cullerton said there was a sentiment in town to "get it done right." But voters' fears about the economy prevailed, he said.

"Realistically, these are tough times for a lot of people," Cullerton said. "People are very fearful, and I completely understand that."

Voters also turned down a proposal to increase in the village's sales tax, to 7.75 percent from 7.25 percent, to pay for road maintenance. The tally was 55.5 percent to 45.5 percent against the tax increase, according to unofficial totals.

The street improvement plan called for reconstruction, resurfacing or patching of 54 side streets - roughly one-third of the village's roadways. The project included curb and gutter improvements and sewer repairs in areas of the village where rainwater causes the sewers to back up.

Voters' rejection of the bond issue means the village lost out on financing the project with low-cost Build American bonds. "We'll keep moving forward and looking for better opportunities," Cullerton said.

The village has received federal funds to cover 80 percent of the $3.5 million cost to replace the Ardmore Avenue bridge, which was closed last year, and is pursuing grants that would bring the outside funding to 100 percent. If those funds materialize, the village would be able to divert its share of bridge cost to tackle a few of its worst streets.

Two high-priority projects are Kenilworth Avenue between Ardmore and Harvard and Michigan Avenue from St. Charles to Division. The Kenilworth project is estimated at $715,000 for three blocks, while the Michigan repairs are expected to cost $1 million for one-third of a mile.

"We can complete the design of Kenilworth and Michigan and have the plans on the shelf ready to go (if funds become available)," said Public Works Director Vydas Juskelis said, adding that other street repairs likely would be put on hold indefinitely.