Elmhurst Headed Toward Higher Taxes: City Official

ELMHURST, IL — The Elmhurst alderwoman who heads the city's finance committee said next year's "status quo" budget disappoints her. She said it is putting the city on the path toward higher taxes and fees.

Ward 4 Alderwoman Noel Talluto made her comments at the end of a budget meeting Monday. She said she had ideas to reverse the city's course and that she would soon present them to the council.

"I was disappointed to receive what I consider a status quo budget," Talluto said at the council's virtual meeting. "Not only did the budget essentially hold expenditures the same as in prior years, but the five-year (capital expenditure budget) and the 2021-2022 operating budget highlighted several new spending priorities or revenue needs that will have to be paid with increased taxes and/or fees on Elmhurst residents."

Talluto said she continued to find that unacceptable and that several of her colleagues expressed similar concerns to her. She said officials had opportunities for structural changes on how the city operates. These changes, she said, could cut the city's operating costs, saving money for new spending priorities and reducing residents' tax burden.

Despite her grim assessment of the budget, Talluto praised city officials for their handling of finances during the pandemic. They held down spending, she said, with little or no reduction of services.

Also, the city was able to offer benefits to help financially struggling residents and businesses with measures such as pushing back the deadline for vehicle sticker fees and waiving certain business fees, Talluto said.

"With all of those activities, we were happy to see that the majority of our fund balances are favorable vs. budget, which is a strong way for us to end the year," Talluto said. "Many local and state governments did not reduce spending the way that Elmhurst did and those cities are now hoping for a bailout or are passing huge property tax increases to make up that difference."

No one responded to Talluto's comments at the meeting.