Some fee increases and a property tax levy hike are on tap for Glencoe residents in 2023, as the village grapples with inflation.
At their Dec. 15 meeting, Glencoe trustees unanimously passed a series of raises for many services including the water rate, sanitary sewers, garbage and recycling collection, ambulances and rates charged at the Glencoe Golf Club.
“While revenues have been very good, high inflation is having an effect on expenses,” noted Trustee Jonathan Vree, who is the village’s finance committee chairman.
The water rate is set to go up 7%, which is equivalent to an increase of $0.57 per 10,000 gallons used, according to Finance Director Nikki Larson.
“For an average family of four, we would project that this would amount to an additional $9.60 per quarter,” Larson explained.
Larson said the increases are designed to support water main improvements identified in the village’s 10-year community investment program.
There will also be an across-the-board fee increases for ambulance service. In one example, the base level 1 for assisted life support for residents is going up from $609 to $700 and $780 to $900 for nonresidents.
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“That is to make sure we are covering our costs of transport,” Larson said adding the last time the ambulance fee was last raised in 2016.
As previously reported, the village’s General Collection Services Fee for garbage and recycling collection is set to go up 5%. Earlier this year, the village board approved a contract extension with Lakeshore Recycling System, the private company that provides those services.
The village also passed a series of increased permit fees and players at the Glencoe Golf Club will face a number of hikes.
All of the fee increases are set to go into effect Jan. 1, village officials said.
In separate action, the village board also approved a total 4.42% property tax levy increase that includes debt service, the village’s fire pension fund and the Glencoe Public Library. The library is a separate government unit, but the village issues the levy.
Larson estimated the property tax levy increase would equate to approximately $53 per $10,000 in property taxes paid.
Larson said currently the village represents approximately 16% of the total property tax bill with Glencoe District 35 and New Trier High School representing larger portions.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.