Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar talked business, raised money for charity and spoke of (possibly) his last term as mayor during Thursday's 2013 State of the Village luncheon.
The Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual event. More than 700 people were in attendance, topping the turnout from 2012.
Claar said he's 99 percent sure that he is running for his final term as mayor in April, though he warned the audience to not "order (their) yard signs yet." Claar is running unopposed in the April 9 election.
Claar spoke of new development in the village, both retail and industrial, including the additions of Zip Fitness and Autumn Leaves. Bolingbrook saw a 6 percent increase in retail sales from Q1 2011 to Q1 2012 and a 5.5 percent increase in sales tax revenue in that same time period.
Retail sales Sales tax revenue 2012 $1,302,000,000 $27,960,000 2011 $1,227,000,000 $26,500,000 2010 $1,060,000,000 $23,200,000 2009 $1,025,000,000 $22,200,000 2008 $1,142,000,000 $24,900,000 2007 $1,083,000,000 $23,427,205.88 2006 $997,000,000 $21,400,000 2005 $875,000,000 $16,700,000 2004 $845,000,000 $14,700,000Editor's note: Data provided by the village for annual State of the Village addresses.
The mayor said he often hears concerns about empty storefronts in Bolingbrook. In 2012, Bolingbrook had a retail vacancy of 7.5 percent of its total retail inventory, or 470,241 square feet. In 2011, Bolingbrook had a retail vacancy of 6.9 percent, or 430,389 square feet.
"America is taking a hit," Claar said. "People have to understand that every time they buy online they put the nail in the coffin of the brick and mortar stores."
Claar said the success of the Promenade Bolingbrook has buffered the loss of other businesses, including major chains such as Circuit City and Borders. He mentioned his support for a local tax on online purchases to keep physical stores in business. The mayor also spoke of his concern of letting retail space be used for non-retail buildings, such as schools or churches.
"If we lose those spaces to non-retail, what will happen when the retail comes back?" Claar asked.
If the village loses sales tax revenue, it will need to look to other sources of revenue to pay for its bills, he said. Claar said in his 2012 State of the Village Address that the village staff had been recently been reduced 30 percent, from 524 to 366.
Total village levy Property tax rate 2012 $16,346,000 $0.8331 2011 $14,984,000 $0.6968 2010 $15,110,000 $0.6667 2009 $14,900,000 $0.6202 2008 $16,090,000 $0.6202 2007 $13,893,872 $0.609 2006 $12,630,000 $0.67 2005 $11,940,000 $0.67 2004 $11,530,000 $0.71Editor's note: Data is provided by the village via State of the Village presentations. Property tax rate is per $100 EAV. EAV (equalized assessed valuation) has fallen each year since 2008.
Check Patch next week for more data on retail vacancies, Bolingbrook population trends and more.
RRS is in violation of the Terms of Use agreement with the Patch if she is allowing someone other than herself to use the account to comment. "Your account is for your sole, personal use. You may not allow others to use your account and you may not assign or otherwise transfer your account to any other person or entity. (If another person or entity wants an account, they can easily sign up themselves.)"
What about proving my 5 facts wrong? Too obsessed with RRS, aren't you Chump.
1. Golf course has started out as a losing venture but is turning itself around slowly but surely. 2. True 3. True but most politicians do not have a financial background. Not sure what your point is than. 4.Thats not a fact. That is purley a matter of opinion. 5. Again, not a fact. Just an opinion. Some people will agree with you while it hers will see it as a source of revenue.
What 5 FACTS are you talking about?
If you're talking about the comment you made on the OTB article, those are not facts. Facts require proof and I don't see where you posted any. When can we expect you to provide the proof? I did comment but you failed to reply. Here's a cut/paste of my comment for you. "Rhonda, You say FACTS but when you're asked to show proof, you accuse me (and others) of stalking. If you have FACTS post them. If not, they're not FACTS. They're just accusations from someone that ran for office and lost. Who was convicted of DUI? Who has a gambling addiction? Who was convicted for Illegal Gambling Who was convicted for misusing tax dollars? As for the bad policies, that' open for opinion. Some think that using tax dollars to purchase commercial property and turn it into a park would be a good policy.
If the BB Golf Course have accumulated more than $20 million in losses, where in the hell are you getting a turn around? Here's the financial picture of the Bolingbrook Golf Course http://www.thenumbercrunchers-bolingbrook.com/gcoperlosses.html I will let the readers sift thru your other bullsh=+t.
...can't let it go can you, Sunshine?
Earlier you claim the BB golf course is "generating a profit", today you are claiming that they are "turning things around"..Really? Which one is it? The golf course is either generating a profit or not. Here's a math question for you Mr. Genius, how much profit will the golf course need to make in order to turn around more than $20 million in combined losses since 2002? Do the math and get back to me.
How about I let you have the OTB facts? Will you then start doing some real homework on your end - prove my 5 facts wrong. Be careful now. The numbers are not looking good.
You blew me off on the other four items, especially the last two since what you stated wasn't fact but opinion. And I never threaten Rhonda or her kids, nor anyone else. If you read too much into, that is your problem.
Or, did you simply repeat what Mayor C told you?
I love the fact that you call me a stalker while you've been pretending to be someone that you're not. That's classic! BTW, we're all still waiting for you to provide the proof for the "FACTS" that you gave. Have a great afternoon!
Or are you stuck on poor Rhonda S?
You don't understand debate. The person that makes the statement has to prove it's true. That would be you. You made statements that you say are "fact". It's up to you to provide the proof. As to the OTB, there's one in Oak Brook. Are you now saying that Oak Brook is a bad place to live/work and that crime increased because of it?
I look through the hundreds of comments to make sure the profanity is taken out. But Patch editors are also allowed to have a weekend and spend time away from the site. Don't you agree?
If it makes you feel better, I will use the name "Anonymous".
Here's a bit of homework for you: Pull fiscal year 2011 and add those net losses to the combined net losses from 2002 to 2010. What do you come up with? MASSIVE & CHRONIC LOSSES. Be careful now, this will require less name calling and some real brain power. Are you up for it? By the way, my name here is Anonymous.
The reason John Q and Caring don't like the BB Patch is because you don't censor the comments. As long as you refrain from vulgarity, all voices are heard. Please keep the blog open and allow all voices to speak.