After years of subsidizing garbage fees for River Grove homeowners, the village says it’ll no longer up part of the bill.
Residential single-family homeowners will soon receive a letter from the village regarding the change, officials say. Currently, residents are billed $12 per month for basic service, while the village says the actual monthly cost for basic service is $24.68,
Beginning Oct. 1, the village says residential homeowners will have to pay the full price.
Officials say the reason for the change is the loss of tax revenue the village has experienced, notably from major sales tax revenue generators like Dominick’s closing in 2013 and CWPrice in 2014. Although new businesses have come into the village since then, they say there’s a revenue gap that still needs to be filled.
River Grove Trustee Tracy Aller, who chairs the village’s finance committee, said something like this needed to be done. She said they expect to save $300,000 as a result of not subsidizing the village’s garbage fee.
The Village Board is looking at ways to better manage their finances and reduce spending as a result of the loss in tax revenue over the past few years. The village has hired a financial consultant to help them with this process.
River Grove Trustee Lynn Bjorvik said the move is about being fiscally responsible.
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“We have to be smart about our finances,” she said. “We can’t do [provide the discount] anymore.”
River Grove Trustee Michele Obaya said she will have to pay the increase as well.
“It’s not like it doesn’t affect us as well,” she said. “I think we’re moving in a good direction.”
River Grove Mayor Marilynn May said they are making tough decisions, but it’s the right thing to do for the village.
“I see good things on the horizon,” she said. “There are good things happening and there are hard decisions ahead, but we have to do it.”
After residents receive the garbage bill, they have about 25 days to pay it. Those with questions should call the village’s administration office at 708-453-8000.
Twitter: @DavidDPollard