Despite a recent lawsuit against a special tax to help finance the revitalization of downtown Downers Grove, officials and business owners are forging ahead with the effort.
“We’re moving forward. There’s nothing that says we can’t,” said Brian Pabst, senior director of economic development.
Pabst said meetings are being held and reports are being reviewed a week after a group of more than 100 downtown property owners and residents filed suit to block implementation of a 1.25 percent tax for the downtown special service area, or SSA. The tax would add an average of $1,255 to the annual property-tax bill of downtown building owners.
The Village Council established the SSA and implemented the tax last month after petitions seeking to stop it fell short. More than half of the property owners and registered voters in the downtown SSA needed to sign opposing petitions to halt the tax.
A review conducted by village officials determined there were not enough proper signatures according to state law. The determination cleared the way for council approval.
In the lawsuit, opponents charge the village improperly spent money to “actively and aggressively” campaign for the SSA’s passage at the same time it was determining the validity of the opposing petitions.
The suit also charges the village with using improper taxpayer and voter registration rolls to determine the validity of the petitions.
Village Attorney Daniel Blondin denied the accusations, saying the village followed proper procedures to review the petitions.
If the suit is unsuccessful, the estimated $200,000 collected annually from the special tax would be used to hire a downtown manager, who would oversee efforts to bring in more business and improve the area.
The SSA is part of a $3.9 million plan to revitalize the downtown business district by 2000. The village would contribute $2.4 million toward the project.
