A few weeks after the November election, Franklin Park is already looking ahead to April’s consolidated election.
The village plans to ask residents if they think state and federal governments should provide COVID-19-related aid — and though nothing will be decided by the votes, the way residents answer could send a message to elected officials, Mayor Barrett Pedersen said in an interview Thursday.
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“The village recognizes the financial effect of the pandemic and it’s asking voters to express their desire for economic relief, especially for homeowners and seniors,” Pedersen said.
The Franklin Park Village Board of Trustees voted Nov. 16 to add three advisory referendums to the ballot for the April 6, 2021 election. An advisory referendum isn’t binding, but it can ask residents to show their support for or opposition to a topic.
One of the referendums will ask residents if they think the village of Franklin Park should encourage the state government to increase homestead tax exemptions to reduce property taxes, as a form of economic relief.
“The last time the amount of the general homeowner and senior exemption was increased was 2017,” Pedersen said. “Increasing the amount of those exemptions will help to reduce the amount of property taxes paid by homeowners.”
The two other referendums ask whether residents want their village government to encourage federal representatives to provide grants for small businesses affected by the pandemic and their employees.
Pedersen said he thinks the economic impact to small businesses that have had to limit capacity or close completely, like restaurants, will last for years. Without help, some small businesses could close permanently, he said.
“Many of these business owners are hurting in a very dramatic way,” Pedersen said.
By asking residents whether they support these measures, it helps village officials advocate for residents’ needs to elected officials at the state and federal level, he commented.
“We’re sending the message to our U.S. senators and congressmen that we need action,” Pedersen said.