Sturtevant residents Tuesday will vote on whether or not to increase taxes for five years to help pay for park maintenance, the annual fireworks, and the re-introduction of village parks & recreation programs.
If approved, taxes would go up 1.8 percent over 2013 rates, or $19 more per $100,000 in assessed value.
Trustees in August voted to include the question on November ballot, in part, because fundraising for the annual fireworks has fallen on the same, small group of volunteers since 2007 and they’re getting burnt out.
“We’re burned out,” Trustee Daryl Lynaugh said in July. “This is a lot of work, and it’s been the same group of people since this started.”
Fireworks were taken out of the village budget in 2007, and parks haven’t had a line item on the budget for years. Master Gardeners have taken care of the grounds at parks and Public Works employees have been mowing the grass, but money for improvements has been hard to come by as village budgets have gotten tighter.
The referendum is worded awkwardly, trustees admit, but how the question is phrased is dictated by state statute.
“It’s wordy and really kind of annoying,” Trustee Chris Larsen agreed.
Election day is Tuesday. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and all Sturtevant residents vote at Village Hall, 2801 89th Street.