The Buffalo Grove Village Board recently approved a three-year intergovernmental agreement with the Park District regarding the village’s popular summer festival, and also the fiscal year 2023 village budget, tax levy and staff salary increases.
Trustees voted 5-0 at the Dec. 5 board meeting in favor of the Park District partnership that will run 2023 to 2025. “Buffalo Grove Days” is one of the signature events in the village that takes place over Labor Day weekend. The board also approved a separate memo of understanding with the Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce to host the business and craft fair at the event.
On a 5-0 vote, trustees voted to adopt the fiscal year 2023 budget, with expenditures of $126 million and revenue expectations of $110 million. The deficit, village Finance Director Chris Black said, will be covered by proceeds from bonds and planned use of capital reserves so the village can maintain a 0% increase in its tax levy of $17.1 million. The levy is approved in 2022 but the taxes billed next year.
“This is the fourth year in a row the village of Buffalo Grove has not increased taxes for its residents,” said Trustee Joanne Johnson. “We’ve employed aggressive debt and liability management, put spending controls in place, operated efficiently and innovatively to continue to deliver the best services for our constituents without asking for more funding from them.”
There were no public comments made during the budget public hearing held before the board voted on the spending plan. The village’s fiscal year runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2023.
The budget includes a 3% salary increase for all non-union Buffalo Grove employees. It also includes annual salaries for Village President Beverly Sussman at $7,800; village Clerk Janet Sirabian at $6,000, and trustee salaries of $4,200 annually.
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In addition, Village Manager Dane Bragg’s employment contract was extended for another four years with annual increases of 3%. His base salary is $292,097. He joined the village in 2010.
Johnson said Bragg’s “creative approach to financing” has empowered the village to make $100 million in improvements. pave the way for a new Public Works Department facility and The Clove mixed-use redevelopment at the former site of the Buffalo Grove Town Center.
“Mr. Bragg is very innovative and creative and he comes up with ideas anyone else would never come up with,” said Sussman. “We are very happy and excited [he] will be with us the next four years.”
Bragg thanked the board for its leadership and support.
“We are in an amazing position as a community,” Bragg said. “I appreciate the accolades but I owe it all to my entire team. I cannot accomplish these things without the great people I work with every day.”
This was the second year of a 50/50 partnership with the Park District to host the annual Buffalo Grove Days in September. Mike Skibbe, deputy village manager and director of Public Works, explained to the board the village supported public safety, public works, site set-up, signage and purchasing contracts at the festival while the Park District dealt with entertainment, food and beverage as well as sponsorships.
Other partners included the Buffalo Grove Days committee which managed the car show, BBQ challenge, information and stage production; the Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce which handled the business and craft fair while the Rotary Club brought Bingo back and a pancake breakfast, among other events.
“The event was a success with the carnival’s highest ticket sales ever despite gloomy weather,” Skibbe told the board. “The Park District secured $36,500 in sponsorships — up from $24,500 the previous year — and $16,000 in beverage sales. Local businesses were highlighted, families had fun and Buffalo Grove was able to celebrate Buffalo Grove.”
Just over $30,000 in proceeds from the event will be donated, he said, to the Buffalo Grove Community Foundation which supports local nonprofit organizations that benefit the Buffalo Grove community as a whole. The board voted 4-0 in favor of the donation, with Trustee David Weidenfeld abstaining since he is currently the chairman of the foundation.
However, the board also approved a new three-year intergovernmental agreement with the Park District that confirms the use of Mike Rylko Community Park for the annual festival and solidifies the split of duties.
“The last two years have been mutually beneficial to the village and Park District,” Skibbe said, “and ultimately improved efficiencies and opportunities with the financial success we have seen.”
Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelancer.