Downers Grove Churches Petition Village for Storm Water Utility Exemption
Representatives from three local congregations told the village council that the newly-implemented utility is placing an undue burden on church finances.
Leaders from three Downers Grove churches are asking local officials to reconsider whether churches and non-profits should have to pay the village's newly-implemented storm water utility fee. Revs. Kirk Moore, Dan Martinson and Scott Oberle attended the Downers Grove Council's Jan. 15 meeting to discuss the fee's impact on their congregations, and ask for a sit-down with the mayor and commissioners. "While we understand that the churches all use village resources and water and (produce) storm water, it does limit our ability in our budget to minister to those in the community, and each of our church communities are affected by this," said Oberle, of First Congregational United Church of Christ. Downers Grove commissioners approved the …
In this Article:
Ann Kerbs
10:25 am on Monday, February 4, 2013
I would argue that churches usually have large buildings and impermeable parking lots that have a high impact on the amount of storm water runoff from their properties. There are already many tax breaks for non-profit entities that churches enjoy. I don't see why the residents should have to shoulder the burden for church property runoff. Yes, many churches help the less fortunate, but so do many… more ›