Burr Ridge Gets Surprise $4M From State

BURR RIDGE, IL – Other towns might become jealous of Burr Ridge.

For the second time in a couple of years, the village has received unexpected millions of dollars from the state.

On Monday, Village Administrator Evan Walter told village trustees that Burr Ridge received $4 million in monthly sales tax money.

That's a lot for one month. The village projected $4.8 million for the entire year.

At the Village Board meeting, Walter referred to the surprise infusion of money in an aside during a discussion about a police camera program.

In a memo Thursday, Walter stated the new program would hike Burr Ridge's camera budget by up to $135,000 a year. He said the village would need to explore "revenue enhancements," meaning tax or fee hikes.

On Friday, Walter said, he got the news about the $4 million. The village can use the interest from the money to pay for the program, he said.

"So please consider that statement about needing additional revenue as being solved," Walter said.

In reply to a Patch inquiry, Walter said the large amount is because of a single taxpayer catching up with the state after not paying its taxes for a while, which he said resembled the earlier situation.

"The State handles all of the sales tax collection and enforcement, so we really don’t get any info on what’s going on until it comes out in the (Illinois Department of Revenue) report," Walter said in an email.

In 2024, Burr Ridge received an unexpected $2 million in sales taxes.

The money went to the village because a company with a Burr Ridge address hadn't paid sales taxes at its local address.

The village did not identify the company, citing a state law requiring confidentiality for specific taxpayers.

At the time, Walter described the company as a retail operation with a local post office box, but no employees or goods coming through. But the sales were booked as coming through Burr Ridge.

After the company paid the $2 million, it closed its operation, Walter said.

The money is going toward the construction of a new Village Hall, which will be attached to the police station.

The unexpected money is helping make the project debt-free.