Kane County Reporter

The dubious moniker of “national tax capital” could be bestowed on the tiny village of West Dundee if a recent board proposal to re-designate its downtown zone as a Special Services Area (SSA) is approved.

The move would lead to a huge spike in property taxes.

If approved, the extra revenue would pay off bond-related obligations to the tune of $2 million, but landowners in the downtown West Dundee SSA would end up with the highest property taxes in the nation.

First told by village officials that her property tax would increase by “only a few hundred dollars a year,” resident Bonnie Yates discovered that — due to a miscalculation by authorities — her parcel would be subject to 10 times that sum, totaling more than $1,100 annually,

While Yates’ historic Main Street property was included in the rezoning plan, a law firm just across the street — and several other businesses along the corridor — were not. The boundary line results in a savings for that firm of $1,450 annually.

Yates spent many thousands of dollars restoring her house, which came with a rich history, since purchasing it in 1989. Her home once served as the home of detective Allan Pinkerton, with lore suggesting that it also served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. 

 At 77, Yates still works full-time as a marriage and family counselor. Although she would like to retire, she said she can’t afford to now. Other homeowners and small businesses whose parcels fall under the SSA could also experience severe economic difficulty as a result of the new geographic boundaries.

"I want to do my part to help the village, but it's getting to be a burden at my age. I want to be able to retire without losing my home," Yates said.