Western Springs Tax Hike May Be Needed: Leader

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs' village president said this week the village may need to increase property taxes to pay for needed upgrades in roads and utilities such as water, sewer and stormwater.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, Village President Heidi Rudolph said the town's income sources are limited.

That, in part, is because 95 percent of Western Springs is residential, she said. Compared with other suburbs, the village's commercial tax base is small.

Rudolph pointed to a study that pointed out the village's infrastructure needs.

"I cannot underscore enough the challenges in our bedroom community," Rudolph said. "The needs span our entire community. Everyone will benefit from projects on the list."

She said the village would continue to seek outside grants to pay for projects, but such programs often require the village to chip in sizable amounts of money.

"I wish we had access to abundant funds that do not directly affect our taxpayers," Rudolph said. "But we do not. Solving these issues is a community effort. It is not easy."

She said the plan is to work with residents on a plan that best solves the issues and "fits our wallets."

Trustee James Tyrrell said the plan is the village's blueprint for the next couple of decades.

"This keeps our community the jewel that it is," he said.

A year ago, Western Springs voters rejected a sales tax increase to pay for infrastructure upgrades.