West Dundee tax plan bad for all

The West Dundee village board decided to table the vote on a proposed property tax increase in the downtown business district at its July 25 meeting based upon the strong and vocal opposition voiced by nine directly affected business owners.

But all property owners should be concerned and voice their opposition. The board will be holding a second public hearing on this issue at their Aug. 22 meeting, after which the issue will be up for vote.

Some contend that the tax increases, in the form of two proposed Special Service Areas, only affect downtown property owners. But that is not true. An approved 1 percent sales tax increase, affecting the same downtown businesses, affects all who do retail business here.

The proposed property tax increase will cause taxes to jump at least 14 percent, adding thousands of dollars of expense each year to business owners, some of whom are already struggling. If this increase goes through the situation will worsen for them.

The proposed 14 percent property tax increase is on top of a 9.25 percent property tax increase in 2015 which hit all property owners in West Dundee. If the board votes "yes" on both SSAs, West Dundee will have the highest property tax rate in Kane County, and one of the highest in the nation. This will tax businesses out of our town. Other businesses will not fill in the void due to the high cost of running a business here. Our downtown will suffer, and that will affect every property owner in town when home values drop as a result.

Please contact village trustees if you believe this tax hike will be harmful to our village. Better yet, come to the Aug. 22 hearing and voice your opinion. The board meets at 7:30 p.m. at village hall.

Julie Fox

West Dundee