The combination of a new 3 percent utility tax, cuts in almost every department and the possibility of more tax increases should help the village dig itself out of a $364,000 shortfall in this year`s $5.2 million budget, village officials say.
But just to make sure, and to protect themselves in the future, trustees this week adopted a plan designed to give the village spending parameters.
”There is no trend other than down in terms of incoming revenue,” said trustee Robert LaMontagne, chairman of the Village Board`s Finance Committee. And with the continuing recession, the board cannot ”paint any kind of a rosy picture. If we have some solid goals, however, we`ll have something to work toward to keep ourselves in the black.”
The financial plan, which includes new revenue sources, projects a shortfall of only $30,368 in the village`s general corporate fund for 1992-93, significantly lower than the expected $364,000 deficit. Trustees said they will continue to find new cost-cutting measures.
Willowbrook`s deficit-caused by sluggish sales and lower state income tax revenue-should be at least partly offset by the new utility tax, which will add 3 percent to electric, gas and telephone service costs. The tax will generate an estimated $375,000 annually after the first year.
Trustees also have increased the vehicle licensing fee by $5 and cut the planned $27,000 Clarendon Hills Road storm sewer project from the budget.
Yet the village`s financial belt is likely to get even tighter. Village Board members will spend the next several weeks reviewing departmental expenditures in a search for non-crucial expenses.
Because Willowbrook is one of the few communities in the state without a village real estate tax, it is prohibited from initiating one without a voter proposal because of the state-imposed property tax cap. With its taxing ability severely limited, LaMontagne said, the village`s opportunity for revenue is restricted to cutbacks, further increases in the utility tax or the adoption of a controversial restaurant tax, which restaurant owners contend will slow their business even more.
Trustees will continue their budget discussions at a workshop at 6:30 p.m. Monday in Village Hall, 7760 Quincy St.
