driven approach to economic development, and a steadfast commitment to public safety and fiscal responsibility, Willowbrook demonstrates that size does not dictate ambition. LOCATION WITHOUT COMPROMISE “Willowbrook has always been kind of a hidden gem in our area,” Frank Trilla, Mayor of the Village of Willowbrook, reflects, drawing on nearly four decades as a resident.“It’s very quiet. We don’t make a lot of news, typically.” That understated profile belies a community with enviable geographic advantages. Located just off the Stevenson Expressway and bisected by Route 83, Willowbrook offers residents and businesses convenient access to downtown Chicago, O’Hare International Airport, and Midway Airport, all within roughly 30 minutes. During the day, the village swells with shoppers, commuters, and workers drawn to its retail corridors and light industrial areas. In the evening, however, Willowbrook returns to its residential roots, offering a quieter pace that many residents value. “We quadruple in size during the day,” Mayor Trilla explains. “At night, we go back to being a sleepy little town.” Land use within the village reflects this balance. Approximately 60 percent of Willowbrook is residential, with the remaining 40 percent designated for light industrial and commercial uses. That mix has enabled the village to rely heavily on sales tax revenue rather than property taxes, a financial approach that has become a defining feature of its governance. “We have the lowest real estate taxes in DuPage County,” Mayor Trilla notes, pointing out that the county includes 35 municipalities. “We’ve been committed since day one to avoiding property tax increases and supporting the village through sales tax instead.” VISION THAT GUIDES ACTION Now in his fourth term as mayor, Mayor Trilla has spent more than a decade emphasizing transparency, communication, and reinvestment as cornerstones 249 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01 VILLAGE OF WILLOWBROOK, IL
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