Tax increase plan bad for W. Dundee

The West Dundee Village Board held public hearings recently on two separate proposed tax increases in a defined downtown area. The first hearing was on the sales tax portion of the increase, which the board quickly passed the same night. A second hearing was held on April 18 regarding the proposed property tax increase, which was not been up for vote that night, but will be soon.

I strongly urge all West Dundee residents to come out against this proposal. While increasing the sales tax adversely affects local businesses, increasing the property tax is far worse. This increase will not only affect businesses, it will also affect some local residents, the same residents who already pay amongst the highest property taxes in the village.

Illinois has the second highest property taxes in the country, and they are the second biggest reason why people leave our state. While the exodus has slowed down in the last couple years, the "for sale" signs around town are evidence that it has not stopped. It seems to me that West Dundee's board is intent on increasing those numbers again, as will surely occur if it votes for an increase.

Increasing property taxes on top of the already-approved increase in sales tax will drive away businesses and residents from our village. The board's plans for revitalizing the business district are sure to have the opposite effect if both types of tax increases are passed. The West Dundee board should be voting on ways that attract businesses and individuals, not ways that make it harder or impossible for them to live or set up a business here. Easing up on zoning laws, not making them more restrictive as has been the practice, would be an excellent start.

Julie Fox

West Dundee