Wheaton Streetscape Project: Council Can't Agree On Tax Hike

WHEATON, IL — As the multi-million dollar Wheaton streetscape project continues to move forward, the city council has reached a fork in the road. At a recent meeting, council members were torn over whether or not to impose a .25% increase in sales tax to help fund the $35 million improvements.

Half of the streetscape improvements are in two specific tax districts, but the remainder of the streetscape is not part of a specific tax district.

Current planned revenue sources include two TIFs totaling at more than $24 million, nearly $8 million from Wheaton's general fund, just over $3 million from the capital projects fund and a .25% increase to the local sales tax that would make up the remainder, Daily Herald reports.

That proposed sales tax increase proved a polarizing prospect for some council members.

During the meeting, council member Phil Suess stressed that he preferred to " try very hard to do this without increasing the sales tax."

Council member Todd Scalzo called the proposed tax increase "a responsible way to fund this."

Other concerns the council raised included reactions from local businesses and outlining the benefits of a sales tax increase compared to the negative aspects. If approved, the increased sales tax's effective date would be July 2018, which gives the city council until April to agree upon an ordinance.

The streetscape improvements include water main replacements, improvements to Martin Plaza and parks near downtown Wheaton. The project should get into full swing come spring 2018.

>>Wheaton Main Street image via GoogleMaps Streetview

>>More via Daily Herald