Village Trustee Tim Allen, sitting in the audience, suggested to the Feb. 11 meeting of the Village’s Administration and Finance Committee that, without seeking voter approval, the Village use its power to borrow $1.8 million for street repairs, to be paid back from higher taxes.

Observers were shocked, recalling that Mr. Allen had campaigned for election on a platform of “No New Taxes,” and that last November voters had denied permission for a $3.3 million loan for streets by a vote of 49% to 51%. He had urged a “no” vote in that referendum.

“We can borrow $1.8 million on a 3-year basis and pay back 600 grand per year and fund it in the taxes so it is recurring for 3 years. And just keep rolling it,” Mr. Allen told the group. “We’re just four votes away from doing it.”

Mayor Deborah Birutis asked Mr. Allen point-blank: “So taxes will automatically go up?”

Mr. Allen: Yep.

Mrs. Birutis: For the households.

Mr. Allen: Yep.

Mrs. Birutis: So the referendum that we had proposed on the roads, that we took to the voters because we wanted them to have a say in whether they wanted their taxes increased to fix roads, so we are just going to bypass them?

Mr. Allen: Yep.

Trustee Jay Olson opposed the idea, saying that the cost of living in Winfield was already going up enough because of increases in water bills, and that he could not support such borrowing except in the case of an emergency.

He reminded Mr. Allen that a discussion of road funding will be held at the next Village Board meeting, and he could bring up his idea then.

Trustee Tony Reyes said Mr. Allen’s plan is “irresponsible” and would “create chaos in the Village.” “Through careful fiscal management,” he advised, “the roads can be fixed over time.”