Issues

Campaign Issues

financial Stewardship

• Village of Itasca residents enjoy the LOWEST municipal tax rate among neighboring towns*.
• The average home value in Itasca is 23% HIGHER than homes in neighboring communities*.
• Itasca is the only neighboring village* to provide FREE garbage, recycling, brush, yard waste and bulk item removal.
• The Village’s financial debt rating increased to AA+, the highest rating possible for a non-home rule community.
• The increase in debt rating combined with restructuring existing debt has saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest payments over the life of loans.
• Itasca’s tax rate is LOWER today than when Mayor Pruyn first took office in 2009.

Encourage Economic Growth

• Over the last five years, Itasca’s tax base has grown by nearly $500 million dollars.
• Over the last five years, Itasca has added more than 300 new upscale residential units in our community.
• Over the last five years, Itasca has attracted nearly 2,000,000 square feet of new development to the Village.
• Itasca successfully developed the 48-acre CBS tower site, which is now home to Costco and Abbott Labs, among others.
• Itasca approved development of a new hotel, service station and strip center with a restaurant along Rohlwing Road at Devon Ave.
• In 2018, the Village approved partnering with the Regional Transportation Authority to create a downtown development plan which is scheduled to be completed this year.

Invest Wisely

• We have prioritized more than $56 million dollars in water, sewer and stormwater improvements over that last decade
• We have completed more than $16 million dollars in roadway improvements.
• We have significantly reduced home flooding by increasing stormwater capacity throughout Itasca. For example, Itasca has increased capacity of its largest stormwater facility by 73%. This equates to additional storage of 784,000 cubic feet equaling 5.9 million gallons.
• Itasca replaced its 80 year old wastewater treatment plant with a modern facility in order to meet state and federal standards now and in the future.
• The Village has aggressively pursued grant funding to replace all residential lead service water lines over the next three years at a total project cost of nearly $7 million.
• We have brought more than $8.7 millions of federal and state funding into Itasca to improve local infrastructure.

Pandemic Response

• Itasca immediately halted water shut-offs, plus suspended late fees and fines to ease the burden on struggling families.
• Every Itasca household received $200 in Itasca Bucks over the past year to lower food costs and support struggling restaurants.
• Itasca launched a grant program providing $150,000 dollar in direct assistance to local restaurants and breweries to help them weather pandemic restrictions.
• When nearly all municipalities closed their doors to the public, Itasca remained OPEN to serve the community, providing support to residents and businesses when they needed it most.
• Mayor Pruyn stepped up to serve on a regional taskforce of Mayors to advise the Governor on ways to safely relieve restrictions on struggling businesses.
• The Village assisted local seniors in identifying vaccine providers and obtaining COVID-19 vaccines.

Community Character

• Partnered with the Suburban O’Hare Commission to successfully expand runway rotation so that plane noise is more equitably distributed providing some relief for Itasca residents.
• Successfully lobbied against ComEd installing new high voltage power lines between the substations in Itasca and Bartlett.  In partnership with neighboring towns, we were able to convince ComEd to pursue an alternative plan to increase reliability.
• Renovated several walkways throughout Springbrook Nature Center to increase accessibility for walkers, wheelchairs and parents with strollers.
• Pursued updating exhibits and signage in Springbrook Nature Center in partnership with the Itasca Park District to modernize the facility for a new generation of Itascans to enjoy.
• Increased support for July 4^th Fireworks, ItascaFest, and OctoberFest, plus supported new events such as the Itasca Cares Food Truck Festival and Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration.

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*As compared to adjacent communities of Addison, Elk Grove, Roselle and Wood Dale based on property tax rates and U.S. Census Bureau Quick facts as of July 2019