Proposed Budget Shows 0% Tax Levy Increase For 3rd Straight Year

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — Mayor Tom Hayes lauded the efforts of Village officials in maintaining a zero percent property tax levy increase for the third straight year in the 2022 Proposed Budget at Monday night's Village Board meeting.

"As a result of the hard work [of Village officials], we were able to be very fiscally prudent and responsible with our taxpayers' dollars," Hayes said.

Hayes said there were two budget meetings held as part of a yearlong budget process. A final meeting and vote is scheduled for the Dec. 6 Village Board meeting.

The $191.5 million budget includes a decrease of 4.6 percent, or $9.2 million, from last year’s total expenditures for all the Village’s operating, capital and other funds. The Village’s fiscal year runs from Jan. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2022.

The zero percent increase in the property tax levy and reduction in expenditures are due to a variety of factors, according to the Village's website, including:

• Sales and Home-Rule Sales Tax receipts, reflecting an 11 percent to 12 percent increase from the 2021 Budget.
• Income Tax receipts reflecting a 21 percent increase from the 2021 Budget.
• A decrease in the Village’s Northwest Central Dispatch annual assessment of $84,900 from the 2021 Budget.
• Cannabis related sales taxes meeting or exceeding expected figures.
• Reductions in Legal Department expenditures with the elimination of the In-House Counsel position and the shifting of DUI enforcement from the Village Prosecutor to the State’s Attorney.

According to officials, the proposed budget plans continued investment in the Village’s Stormwater System including the Burr Oak/Burning Tree/ Berkley/Hintz Road Area at price tag of $2,672,000.

The Village will also be continuing with the ongoing Backyard Drainage Improvements ($400,000) project and the Storm Sewer Rehabilitation/Replacement Program ($500,000).

Funding for road and water system maintenance, as part of various capital projects, include:

• Street Program ($5,600,000 – Capital Projects Fund) – This is an ongoing program to resurface or rehabilitate existing deteriorated street pavement and curbs.
• Watermain Replacement Program ($4,100,000 – Water & Sewer Fund) – This is an ongoing project to replacement aging water main infrastructure. The proposed $4,100,000 annual expenditure is enough to replace an industry standard of 1 percent of the Village’s overall water mains.
• Street Rehabilitation Program ($4,000,000 – MFT Fund) – This is an ongoing street rehabilitation program consisting of the reconstruction of significantly deteriorated street pavement, curbs, and concrete panels.

"We are still accepting questions from the public [regarding the budget] and have been responding to those," Village Manager Randy Recklaus said.

A number of questions from residents can be found on the Village's 2022 budget page here.

He added that the budget will allow the Village to "conduct all of the activities that the Village is expected to do by its residents" while also meeting strategic priorities established by the Village Board in a planning session last summer.

Residents who would like to ask questions regarding the proposed budget, can email budget@vah.com.

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