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DuPage incumbents discuss ways to raise money for the county

Two incumbents seeking re-election to the DuPage County Board say the county should consider new sources of revenue - including a tax on hotel and motel stays - to hold the line on property taxes.

District 6 county board members Jim Zay of Carol Stream and Kevin Wiley of West Chicago are hoping to keep their seats. They will face Carol Stream resident Sean McQuade during the GOP primary in March to determine which two advance to the November general election.

During an endorsement session this week with the Daily Herald, Zay and Wiley both said they want property taxes to remain flat for county government. Last fall, they and other board members kept DuPage's $66.9 million property tax levy steady, even though the county lost more than $3 million in state funding.

"The easiest vote in the world is to raise property taxes," Zay said. "The toughest vote is to say, 'No, we're going to cut.' And the county has done a good job. We've cut a lot over the years."

While officials will continue looking for ways to reduce costs, Zay said, "We're getting to a point where we need to seek other revenue."

Some of the revenue DuPage lost included roughly $851,000 in motor fuel tax money. To replace those dollars - and generate additional money for road construction and repairs - Zay is suggesting the county lobby state lawmakers to increase the motor fuel tax.

"The state hasn't raised the motor fuel tax in more than 25 years," he said. "Maybe they could raise that a little bit."

Meanwhile, Zay said there's talk of DuPage seeking a countywide hotel/motel tax to help bolster its general fund.

State lawmakers would need to give the county the power to impose the new tax on hotel and motel stays, but Zay says the tax amount would be a "small."

"It really wouldn't hurt the people of DuPage County," he said. "It would be paid by people coming in countywide - not just in the unincorporated area."

Wiley voiced support for both the motor fuel tax hike and the hotel/motel tax. However, he said he wants to study the ideas to make sure they don't put DuPage at a competitive disadvantage.

"If it's not competitive with everybody around us, that's going to cost us tax revenue," he said.

Wiley said the board should work to find efficiencies and reduce spending. As for raising property taxes, he said, "That's the last course of action."

McQuade said he could support a property tax increase if "there's definitely the need to do that." He didn't suggest alternative ways to raise money.

The GOP primary winners will face the two Democratic nominees in the November general election.

District 6 includes all or parts of Aurora, Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Glendale Heights, Hanover Park, Naperville, Roselle, St. Charles, Warrenville, Wayne, West Chicago, Wheaton and Winfield.

Jim Zay
Kevin Wiley
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