Here's What You Must Pay Western Springs

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs trustees on Monday unanimously voted for a fee that will cost most homeowners hundreds of dollars a year.

Officials said it would pay for stormwater improvements, particularly in the Ridgewood and Springdale neighborhoods.

The annual costs under the three tiers of the fee will be $147, $210 and $294. According to the village, about 60 percent of households would pay the middle tier – $210 a year.

The fee is based on how much impervious surface such as pavement covers a property. Such surfaces add to flooding.

On its website, Western Springs calls the stormwater fees an "equitable" method for distributing the costs of improvements.

"Those properties that place a greater demand on the system, pay a higher rate," the website said. "The fee generates funds by charging all property owners a stormwater fee, based on the property's impact to the stormwater system."

In November, a slight majority of Western Springs voters rejected a proposed increase in the village's sales tax by 1 percentage point. The tax would have paid for infrastructure projects in general, including for stormwater.

Residents can get village credits for such things as detention basins, rain gardens, permeable pavement and cisterns. More details are on the village's website.

At least 15 towns in Illinois already have stormwater fees. They include Downers Grove, Winnetka and Buffalo Grove. Elmhurst is considering one.

The new Western Springs fee could take effect as soon as the July utility bills.