Bolingbrook Residents Fire Back Following Move to Hike Village Tax Levy

Bolingbrook residents were quick to react online and on social media to a report that property taxes in the Village could be boosted in 2014 following a move by Trustees to hike Bolingbrook’s tax levy from 16.3 million to $17.7 million.

The Chicago Tribune reported the extra money will be used to cover police and fire pension costs and to pay for expenses related to removing and treating trees ravaged by Emerald Ash Borer beetles.

Here is a sampling of what residents had to say:

Bolingbrook Patch

cboyles618 January 02, 2014 at 11:41 AM

I don't mind paying a bit higher levy based on the Police, Paramedic and Firefighter service we have in Bolingbrook. Our town is lucky to have these public servants available to us and they are entitled to the pension they signed on for when they aquired these positions. I don't know how many people are aware that these brave men and women are not entitled to Social Security benefits so the last thing that should happen is to have them receive a reduction in their pension benefits.

Resurrected January 02, 2014 at 11:59 AM

Bolingbrook taxes are just as high as Naperville.

Janet January 02, 2014 at 12:00 PM

I cannot afford another increase in my taxes. As it is I am paying property taxes on a condo for which I do not even own anything other than the inside of my unit. How is that fair to pay the same as a single family home. As it is I might have to go into foreclosure now. Why are the taxes going up anyway hit up all these businesses that you give tax breaks to for moving into our Village. Make them take some of the burden because now you are going to be losing a lot more homes due to foreclosure as if we do not have enough already. Wake up people.

Christine S. January 02, 2014 at 12:01 PM

All I know is that no matter how bad the economy has been, our property taxes have risen every single year except one. Plus, our home has lost about $80,000 in value yet we've seen no change either. Something is going to break, I'm afraid.

This is BEYONE ridiculous. I'm being taxed OUT OF OUR HOME! What the heck are those politicians doing with our money? PENSIONS? Give me a break. Have the politicians stop buying and building everything we can't afford. We didn't NEED a new library, a new golf course another new golf course clubhouse. We NEED to fill all those empty and 3/4 vacant business buildings and warehouses and start collecting tax revenue from those. WE NEED to lower rent prices on the vacant strip malls and get tenants in them and gain more tax revenue there. Our taxes have TRIPLED since I moved in 17 years ago and it's gotten us NOTHING. Our trees haven't been trimmed for three years, the park across the street gets mowed once a month - if we're lucky. There's no code enforcement or animal control officers anymore. I see a police car patrol once a week - probably because he or she is lost. We've got a shopping mall that was supposed to LOWER our taxes and that was nothing but a pile of garbage. We are paying 14.55% LIQOUR TAX and that has forced restaurants out of this village faster than anything else. Drive down Rt. 53 North and you can see ALL THAT REVENUE being made in Woodridge!!! We are known as BORINGBROKE and it's getting worse and worse and NOW THIS GARBAGE ? FOR PENSIONS? Really? Enough already. Let them get 401K retirement funds like the rest of us do. ENOUGH ALREADY

Bolingbrook Facebook

DeAun DeYoung Tollner It has become far too expensive to live in this town and this state. Eyeing up TN where the property taxes are under $1000 per year. Between my water bill, retail taxes and property taxes; I cannot afford to live in Bolingbrook much longer. Its sad. I moved here 20 years ago and have watched this town grow and change in such a positive way.

Tony Bakken I live in a townhouse and our taxes here are higher than a lot of people who have single family homes in surrounding communities. What exactly are we getting for this increase? Our school district is an embarrassment and I would hope that would be a focus.

D'Arcy Ellen Are you kidding me?! 1.4 million hike? How much did all the beautification on Rt 53 cost? I think all the Christmas lights are beautiful, but the electric bill for all the lights throughout BB has to be costly too! I feel there could be other areas costs could be reduced! Not a happy resident if our property taxes go up before they consider lowering some of the other costs.

Christine McDonagh Crawley Absurd! This town is good, but it's not the greatest and the taxes are WAY too high already! For all the money we pay in taxes we could at least have frickin' garbage cans!!! We are the ONLY town Groot deals with that doesn't use garbage cans! But that's a whole other gripe.

Kim Jayhan Really? A special meeting because you actually didn't plan it right for a public meeting? That is not a "mistake".....that is hijacking the system to push a tax increase without public input. Thumbs down, Mayor Claar.

Lonnie Conley Simpson Property tax increase! Crazy!!! We are paying way too much to live in Bolingbrook.