Kenilworth Projects $216K Budget Surplus for Coming Fiscal Year

The Kenilworth Village Board of Trustees presented their 2011-2012 fiscal year budget Monday night with an anticpated surplus of $216,610. This projected figure is nearly 43 times last year's additional funds, which was the first time in three years Kenilworth didn't have red ink on the budget.

“While we are projecting a surplus … we are still planning to provide a high level of service,” Village Manager Bradley Burke told the lightly attended meeting.

The additional funds are a result of the reorganization of the village’s Department of Public Works, as well as an anticipated $90,000 in revenue from the issuance of three new home permits this year, Burke said.

“The budget does include a proposed increase of total compensation by 3.36 percent,” with adjustments to base salaries and line items for possible bonus awards, Burke said. Meanwhile the average base salary increase is right around 1.92 percent, Burke said.

The village savings will include a 19.6 percent decrease in the streets department budget based on year-end projections that have been largely achieved by personnel expense reductions, according to the budget document. Specifically, the retirement of Public Works Superintendent Ignazio Fiorentino in July 2010 has led to the loss of a supervisory position that will save $120,000.

There is also a $40,000 decrease in expenses on the village's contract with the Winnetka Fire Department because of a reduction in calls for service changes in management staff and reducing personnel costs.

For the second year in a row the village will also be tapping its ability to bond $600,000 for capital expenditures, which means that a home with a value of $500,000 faces a total tax increase of $392. Additionally, a home valued at $1,250,000 will see a total tax increase of $980.

“[But] it’s currently showing up in the current year taxes, so the taxes will not increase,” Burke said.

Residents will also notice a five percent increase on their water bills in the coming fiscal year. This is the second increase in as many years after rates remained steady from 2002. 

Police Dispatch Study

On the same night, at a village board meeting that followed the public forum, the trustees also unanimously approved a measure that would tie the dispatch center for Kenilworth, Northfield and Winnetka.

The agreement will retain Elert & Associates to complete a consolidated dispatch study. The study will comence once all three communities approve the agreement.

• Phase I: Assesment and Recommendation
• Phase II: Design and Development
• Phase III: Construction Documents
• Phase IV: Project Implementation

Elert & Associates has done similar studies and work in Johnson County, Iowa, Wood County, Wisc., Calhoun County and Western Wayne County, Mich.

The Village of Winnetka will take the lead in the study and the Village of Kenilworth will be responsible for paying their share of the cost back to Winnetka.

The cost of the study, which is fixed in price and hours, has also been factored into the new budget, Burke said.

The village hopes to supplement the loss of a full-time police officer with part-time officers in another effort to save money, Burke said, adding that net savings would total $75,000.