Property tax rate stays flat in Bartlett

In what has been the trend for more than 10 years, the village of Bartlett's portion of the 2010 proposed property tax levy will not increase, village officials proudly announced Tuesday.

“I'm happy to always say the village's line item has not gone up in 10-plus years when residents approach him to discuss property taxes, Trustee Dennis Nolan said.

The 2010 estimated Cook County tax rate is expected to decrease by $0.21 due to an increase in equalized assessed value; the 2010 estimated DuPage County tax rate is expected to increase by 1.8 cents, due to a decrease in EAV estimated in 2010, Village of Bartlett Finance Director Jeff Martynowicz said in his report.

In 2009 the village received 10 percent of the DuPage County tax rate, with 65 percent of the rate going to District 46, Martynowicz said. The village received 9 percent of total tax rates in 2008 from Cook County, with 60 percent of the total tax rate going to District 46, Martynowicz said in his report.

Although the village is not required to hold a public hearing on the matter, the village will hold a public hearing on the tax levy Nov. 16.

Communication was another item of discussion Tuesday, as officials weighed the pros and cons legal and otherwise of being accessible by e-mail to residents. The discussion came at a time when, coincidentally, the village has received about 50 e-mails in the last week regarding a special use permit request for “Half Pint Brawlers to perform at Bannerman's Sports Grill, trustees said.

“We've had 50 e-mails in the last few days; those people might be waiting for a response, Trustee Frank Napolitano said.

Bartlett village attorney Bryan Mraz presented information on the legal pros and cons of assigning village e-mail accounts to board members during the license and ordinance portion of the night's meeting. Currently, residents only have the capability to e-mail the mayor and village board together via a form on the village website, which is concerning to trustees who think that residents should be able to choose who on the board they'd like to contact.

“Why should a resident only be able to speak to the board? Why could someone address one of us instead of the board? Trustee Michael Airdo asked.

“If someone wants to find me; they find me. The residents in this village... if they want to find their public official, they will find you. Trust me, Nolan said.

Most trustees expressed a desire to be accessible to its residents, however, they also noted drawbacks ranging from Freedom of Information Act request concerns to complying with the Local Records Act.

“I think increase in accessibility for the residents is a good thing. I receive nine e-mails for every one phone call I receive, Napolitano said.

Currently, trustees can choose to be looped into individual e-mails from residents or to receive the communication in their public records packet they receive. “I believe there's an element of filtering going on. I think there's a right to have that e-mail conveyed, Airdo said.