Aldermen voted 5-2 Tuesday night to place a referendum on the November ballot on whether the city should spend $71 million over the next 25 years to make capital improvements to the city’s sewer and fresh water systems.
City Finance Director Greg Peters said funding could be accomplished three ways:
By increasing water rates by a third, beginning in 1997; by increasing the property tax levies by 19 percent, beginning in 1997; or by increasing water rates by 16 percent and property tax levies by 10 percent.
A stormwater management plan quoted by city officials calls for 23 separate projects to be completed in Des Plaines to ease the risk of flooding.
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“During the 1986-87 floods, people called us damn fools for doing nothing about flooding,” said Ald. Carmen Sarlo. “People . . . demanded action and some said they didn’t care what it cost.”