Should Downers Grove Churches Have to Pay Storm Water Fees?
Representatives from three local congregations told the village council that the newly-implemented utility is placing an undue burden on church finances.
Stormwater Utility
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Sunday, February 3, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
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 …
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Thursday, November 15, 2012
Downers Grove to Reduce Property Tax Levy with New Stormwater Fee
The village council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt its 2013 budget, which implements the new stormwater utility and includes a $1.98 million reduction to the property tax levy.
For the second straight year, Downers Grove officials are expected to approve a reduction in the annual tax levy—a result of the village's newly adopted stormwater utility. The village council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the 2012-13 municipal budget, as well as an estimated levy. The budget implements a new village-wide stormwater fee, includes a $1.98 million reduction to the property tax levy and presents a balanced budget for general fund. The FY13 budget is the fourth annual budget prepared using the recommendations of the Long Range Financial Plan (LRFP), and includes a specific action plan for the general fund budget, officials said. While the village's general fund is balanced at $41.6 million, the total budget projects $…
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Sunday, August 26, 2012
Weekly Wrap-Up: Downers Grove Adopts Stormwater Utility, West Nile Cases on the Rise
A look back at the Downers Grove headlines from Aug. 20-26.
DuPage County Now Reporting 5 Human Cases of West Nile Virus The DuPage County Health Department is urging residents to take precaution, as the number of cases is expected to increase in the coming days. School Bells to Ring in District 58 Classes begin Monday, Aug. 27. Teachers have already reported. Read on for information about the new school year. Meet Amanda Luevano, Your New Downers Grove Patch Editor A new day dawns for Downers Grove Patch. Downers Grove North Parking Lots to Open; New Traffic Patterns Announced District 99 installed permeable pavers in its east parking lot this summer in order to save taypayers between $40,000 and $100,000 in project costs, officials said. Local Chambers, 'Giving DuPage' Plan 9/11 Event to Promote …
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Thursday, August 23, 2012
Downers Grove Council Adopts Stormwater Utility
Village commissioners voted 5-2 on Tuesday to approve the ordinance, which establishes a monthly fee for the stormwater management system.
Downers Grove will shift to a fee-based stormwater management system in January 2013, replacing its current property tax-based system with a monthly charge for all property owners. The village council voted 5-2 on Tuesday to adopt the stormwater utility system, which has been in the works since 2003. The monthly fee is expected to generate $3.5 million for the village next year, and will reduce property taxes by about $2.5 million, according to village officials. The fee will be determined by how much stormwater runoff each property generates, which officials say is more equitable and will create a stable source of funding for much-needed repairs and maintenance to the village’s stormwater infrastructure. “This program that has been …
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Kent Frederick
9:48 am on Monday, August 27, 2012
I just got an e-mail from the Village. My property tax will go down by $98.80, and I'll pay $75.60 in annual stormwater fees. So, the net effect is $23.20 less to the Village. That isn't a lot, but beats paying more. more ›
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Downers Grove Council to Consider Stormwater Fee
The village will hold a business meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Village Hall, 801 Burlington Ave.
The Downers Grove village council will consider an ordinance Tuesday night that will change how the stormwater management system is funded. The stormwater utility ordinance would abolish the village's current property tax-based system and establish fees determined by how much stormwater each property creates. Downers Grove maintains its own stormwater infrastructure, which includes storm sewer pipes, streams, wetlands, roadway ditches and drainage structures. Historically, repairs and maintenance have been funded through property tax dollars. The current funding level is not adequate to maintain and replace the system as needed, according to village officials. During the village council's Aug. 14 meeting, Mayor Martin Tully said the …
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Council Considers Stormwater Utility, Reviews Electricity Aggregation Option
Council members are in agreement that something most be done to provide a steady revenue stream for stormwater management.
For the first time in weeks, the prospective Walgreens location on 63rd didn't dominate the village council meeting and instead the council focused on stormwater management Tuesday night. With elections approaching on March 20, Allison Deitch, a management analyst for Downers Grove, gave a short presentation about electrical aggregation. There will be a referendum on the ballot with the following question: “Shall the village of Downers Grove have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such program?” Electrical aggregation, in the case of Downers Grove, is the process of finding a different supplier for electricity in an effort to lower fees…
J D McNugent
11:19 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Jealousy, that's a trip. I will think of you when I am rolling phat in my $70k suv while you are living paycheck to paycheck to afford your McMansion! Ha!!! more ›
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Village Council Considers Study as First Step to Establishing a Stormwater Utility
Commissioners expect residents to become involved in the discussion.
Faced with a continuing and costly effort to operate and maintain the village’s stormwater infrastructure in compliance with state and federal regulations, the Village Council Tuesday discussed whether to approve a $64,000 study that could be the first step toward creating a local Stormwater Utility. The goal of the proposed study is to give recommendations “regarding the possible creation of a stormwater utility, including suggested fees and funding sources,” said Public Works Director Nan Newlon. “We have an aging system of storm sewers in various stages of disrepair,” she said. In addition, the village must comply with several government mandates, including the Clean Water Act. The question is how to pay for stormwater compliance, not …
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 ›