Wheeling board approves Cook County Class 6B SER tax classification for Reynolds Consumer Products to retain jobs and fund upgrades

The Wheeling Village Board on April 21 voted to authorize and consent to a Cook County Class 6B Real Estate Tax Assessment classification under the Sustainability Energy Relief (SER) program for Reynolds Consumer Products, allowing the company to pursue property tax relief tied to planned capital investment.

Village staff described the company's proposal: Reynolds, a long-time Wheeling employer with 316 full-time employees at the Wheeling facility, has operated at the site since 2010 and has not previously received property tax incentives. Staff said the company faces physical obsolescence at a facility more than 40 years old and that analysis showed a strong economic case to invest locally to retain operations rather than relocate additional production to Louisville, Kentucky.

Staff told the board the SER program requires a facility to be in place for at least 10 years, evidence of economic hardship to justify relief, and that the applicant not be receiving other property tax incentives. Under the proposal, Reynolds would invest $10,000,000 over four years (about $2.5 million per year), receive a $2,000,000 certification enabling exports to the U.K. and EU, and could pursue an additional $6,000,000 investment for another product line pending approvals.

Shannon O'Hare, an applicant representative, told the board, "Yes, the planned investment will continue to go forward even with tariffs because, you know, they're making these products here right in the U.S. and a lot of them remain here in the U.S."

Trustee Lang moved to approve the village's consent to the Class 6B SER classification; Trustee Vogel seconded. The roll call vote recorded unanimous approval from trustees present.

Staff noted the program is intended to preserve jobs and encourage reinvestment in older industrial properties, and that the village will monitor the investment schedule tied to the tax classification.