Village Board Passes FY2012-2013 Budget

The Woodridge village board passed the village's budget for fiscal year 2012-2013 Thursday night. 

Woodridge households will see an increase of at least $5 to their tax bill each year as part of a provision to the  FY2013 budget.

The increase would only be on behalf of the village's portion of the tax bill. The village's annual tax levy also includes the levy for the . The $5 increase would not include any increases in taxes to support the library.

The village's current tax bill, not including taxes to support the Woodridge Public Library, is $238 for the average Woodridge household. 

Woodridge residents will also see an increase to their water bills, according to a village press release, due to "increased costs to maintain the water system and to purchase water."  The increase will be approximately $2.03 per month for the average customer. 

Perhaps the most controversial item was the Woodridge Police Department's new traffic unit, which will be launched this summer. The unit's two officers will work Monday through Friday during peak traffic hours. They'll be devoted to traffic issues, including speeding, driving under the influence and seat belt enforcement.

Trustee David Pittinger told the village board on two occasions that he regarded seat belt enforcement as a "gross violation of personal privacy." Two trustees agreed with him but three others and Mayor William F. Murphy disagreed. 

Also in the police department's budget for FY2013 is an online citizen crime reporting system. CopLogic will allow Woodridge residents to directly report non-violent crimes online to the . 

The budget contained $1.76 million for street resurfacing, patching, and traffic signal improvement projects this year. Roadway resurfacing will occur on Woodward Avenue (Boughton Road to the I-55 bridge) and sections of Valley View, Forest Glen, Apache, Birchwood, Beller, and several other roads, according to a village press release. Traffic signal improvements will occur on intersections located on Center Drive and Janes Avenue.

Expected revenue for FY13: $36,798,435

Charges for services: 21%, Sales Tax: 17%, Transfers: 16%, Intergovernmental Revenue: 14%, Property Taxes: 12%, Utility Tax: 9%, Other: 3%, Licenses and Permits: 3%, Other Taxes: 2%, Fines: 2%, Interest: 1%

Expected expenditures for FY13: $40,093,269

Personnel: 38%, Internal Services/Other: 16%, Services: 12%, Capital: 10%, Purchased Water: 8%, Debt Service: 8%, Street Improvements: 5%, Commodities: 3%

There are no increases to personnel or cuts to services planned for the next year.

Village of Woodridge Sees Surplus, Not Anticipated Deficit, in FY2012

The village had projected it would have a deficit of $2.1 million by the end of 2012. Instead, the village will see a year-end surplus of $197,000. 

Officials attributed the $2.3 million swing to stronger than expected sales and income tax and higher real estate transfer transactions, as well as lower than expected expenditures.

Sales tax was $273,000 higher than expected. Income tax was $221,000 higher than expected and real estate transfer transactions were $107,000 higher than expected. 

Expenditures for the year were $393,000 lower than expected. 

Expenditures planned for FY13 are less than those planned for FY12 by $391,865. The reduced planned expenditures was a "valient effort" by the department, officials said.