What Barrington residents can expect from home rule

A home rule sales tax. A crime-free housing ordinance. Cost savings through multiyear contracting.

Those are some of the changes Barrington residents likely will see as a result of last week's referendum granting the village-home rule status, said Village President Karen Darch.

One thing they will not see - property tax hikes in excess of what they would have been without the vote, Darch added. In September, the village board passed an ordinance requiring the panel keep the town's property tax levy within the nonhome-rule tax cap.

"So as we set the levy and do the budgeting, we will abide by the cap," Darch said.

Darch noted that home-rule neighbors South Barrington and Lake Barrington have not increased their property tax levy over the last several years, while another, Barrington Hills, has seen its property tax levy decrease over each of the past eight years.

Home rule, which is automatic for Illinois municipalities of more than 25,000 residents, gives towns greater authority to impose taxes, such as a local sales or gas tax, as well as more flexibility in drafting ordinances.

When the election results are certified, trustees will begin work on implementing changes allowed by the new home-rule status. Darch said the village attorney has recommended readopting the village code.

The next steps will include putting the 1% home-rule sales tax in place. The tax will not apply to groceries, prescription drugs or vehicle sales.

Revenue from the sales tax will fund infrastructure improvements and beautification efforts, officials say.

The village also will look at creating crime-free rental housing ordinance. Similar ordinances in communities such as Palatine and Mount Prospect require landlords to obtain a license and attend a crime-free housing seminar. They also give landlords the authority to evict tenants over criminal activity in rental units.

Darch pointed out that more than 25% of the village's housing is rental.

"It would have been a great tool to have, and now we will be able to fashion an ordinance that will let us deal with that," she said.