East Dundee village trustees this week approved a $15.6 million budget for 2021-22 that includes funding for intersection improvements at Route 72 and Christina Drive and a facelift for the village’s water tower.
The budget represents a nearly $4 million increase over the current fiscal year budget of $11.8 million. The jump comes after budget cuts were made last year to deal with anticipated revenue losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Village Administrator Jennifer Johnsen said.
Property taxes, anticipated to bring in about $668,000 in revenue, will go entirely to the village’s police pension fund, which is something they do every year Johnsen said.
“Property taxes make up a very small portion of our budget,” Johnsen said. The village relies on other income sources, such as sales tax money, for the bulk of the revenue needed to fund expenditures.
The budget also includes the extension of garbage pick up fees, which cost residents anywhere from $10 to $20 per month.
Trustees approved garbage fees for the first time in 2018, noting the village could no longer absorb the cost of trash collection. Trustee Jeff Lynam, who will be seated as village president next month, told the board at its Monday meeting that he opposed the garbage fee extension because the plan had been to sunset it after the first year.
“We’re extending it a second time,” Lynam said.
Though residents will have to keep paying the cost, village trustees noted they have worked to lower rates by offering less-expensive, smaller-sized totes for residents who may not need the larger ones. The village also offers discounted rates to senior citizens.
Trustees also approved a $56,000 contract Monday with Dixon Engineering for design plans to repaint the village’s water tower. The project includes painting the main tower and stem.
Johnsen said the village is considering whether the village’s logo will be added to the tower.
There is also $1.4 million in grant funding included in the new budget to fund intersection improvements — including signalization — at Route 72 and Christina Drive, Johnson said. The village is working with the Illinois Department of Transportation to get final approvals on job, which should be completed this year, she said.
Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
