A tentative 2024 budget making its way to Glenview lawmakers for a vote in December does not include a tax hike but the village is struggling with increased costs due to supply-chain issues post-COVID-19, officials said.
“We are seeing significantly higher costs and significant delays for commodities, most notably with vehicles,” said David Just, community engagement manager with the village. “We’re facing 12 to 18 month delays for our fleet, which includes squad cars, fire engines, ambulances, snow plows.”
The budget is the most important work product the Village Board must develop and approve every year, a statement on the village’s website say. Not only is it a legal document detailing how dollars are spent, but it also lays out Village goals and objectives for the coming year.
The process of preparing the budget begins in April each year with the development of a five-year forecast, according to the statement. It also says village staff use that forecast to develop each department’s budget using a zero-base approach, meaning that rather than drawing from last year’s budget, the village starts from scratch to ensure a ground-up review of all expenditures on an annual basis.
During a recent budget workshop, village staff presented a draft 2024 Corporate Fund budget showing a surplus of $816,000 and an estimated 2023 surplus of $10.2 million, Just said. He also those are “draft figures and staff continues to make updates to them as more information is received.”
“Despite having the lowest tax burden of every surrounding community and most similar municipalities in the region, Village staff and the Board work hard to remain in a strong financial position,” said Just. “Revenues this year have been higher than anticipated due to permit fees for new developments, most notably the new Dermody Logistics Center on the former Allstate campus. Investment income and sales and income taxes have all been higher than anticipated as well.”
He said the village had a $171.8 million budget in 2023 for all funds excluding transfers out between fund and that the budget includes public safety services (police, fire & EMS, and 9-1-1 dispatch), snow and ice control, forestry services, pensions, water and sewer services and capital improvement projects.
There are two formal public hearings held, one to review the 2023 property tax levy and another for the 2024 budget that will be held at village hall on Nov. 21 and Dec. 5 respectively, Just said.
Officials said major capital projects slated for 2024 include a Valley Lo subdivision water main replacement, Linneman Street water main replacement and roadway reconstruction, Huckleberry Lane reconstruction including curb and gutter and storm sewer installation, Wagner Road water main replacement, a Longvalley River stabilization project and Zenith Drive and Milwaukee Avenue intersection and pedestrian improvements.
Just said the village does not anticipate any tax hikes in the budget and that fees will be determined through a fee ordinance that is typically considered in November. He also said water and sewer rates will be discussed at a budget workshop on Oct. 26. He said the village board reviews the property tax levy at their second meeting in November, which is Nov. 21 this year.
“Then they meet once more in December to formally adopt the final budget,” he explained. “That will happen Dec. 5 this year. Both the levy review and final review of the budget are preceded by public hearings to allow for public participation.”
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Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter form Pioneer Press.