TAX NEWS - 2010

US Tax: Pingree Grove to decide on tax referendum

PINGREE GROVE -- Village trustees will decide later this month whether to place a village-wide tax referendum on the November general election ballot.

The board is scheduled to vote July 19 on the proposed ordinance, which would convert what is now Maintenance Special Service Area revenue into a village-wide property tax rate.

Trustee Stephanie Mette said at this week's board meeting that it is time for Pingree Grove to move forward on the issue.

"This is a passionate issue, and there are people on both sides of the fence," said Mette of the proposed ordinance.

It would affect about 37 percent of the village's homes, which currently are not part of the special service area.

"We're not making the decision to raise or lower taxes -- we're turning that decision over to the residents," Mette said. "Personally, I would like it to appear on the ballot, so I would like it to appear on our next agenda."

Village attorney Dean Frieders said trustees would be voting not only on whether to place the item on the ballot but also on which draft ordinance would appear. One version would place the tax revenue into the general corporate tax fund, giving the village flexibility on where the funds could be spent, while the other would earmark the revenue for police protection.

Based on current calculations, the change would result in an increase of $104.25 in annual property taxes per $100,000 of fair market value for a single-family residence. Frieders said trustees also would have the opportunity to decide whether the tax rate calculation, which uses last year's budget numbers, should be adjusted.