Village Sees $1.5M Surplus for FY2011

Despite anticipating a deficit of $1.4 million from May 2010 to April 2011, the saw a surplus of $1.5 million during that time.

The $1.5 million surplus is triple the $444,926 surplus . May 1, 2010, to April 30, 2011, constitutes Fiscal Year 2011.

The increased number is due to expenses being $600,000 lower than estimated and revenue being $$386,000 higher, according to village officials.

Overall department expenses were $600,000 lower than the last estimate, according to Jack Knight, management analyst for the village.

This was due to the following:

• Savings in personnel costs in the Woodridge Police Department due to unfilled positions
• Reductions in overtime in Woodridge Public Works by managing overtime costs and unspent consultant costs
• Department expenses were 8.6 percent less than budgeted
• $50,000 of budgeted money unspent

The village received $386,000 more in income tax revenue than was estimated for the budget year, Knight said. There were also increases in intergovernmental revenue, charges for services and transfer taxes, which offset a decline in revenue provided by building licenses and permits.

The village board passed its budget for Fiscal Year 2012 in May. That budget is in effect from May 1, 2011 to April 30, 2012.

The village is anticipating a $600,274 deficit for FY12, village officials reported in May, though they hoped to reduce that deficit as the village was able to do for FY11. 

"It's unlikely (the deficit will) actually occur," said Village Administrator Kathleen Rush. "We're very cautious with our expenses. It's likely to come in at $0 in 2013. We may not spend as much money, and our revenue may be more than expected."

Rush and Knight said the village is conservative especially in terms of how much money the village will receive from the state. 

Peggy Halik, assistant village administrator, said at any given time, the state of Illinois owes the village three months worth of money, and at some points the state has owed the village five to six months of money. 

"Much uncertainty remains regarding how the State of Illinois’ will impact local government budgets," Knight wrote in village press release.

"Anywhere from the entire share of the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) to a 5 percent decrease has been proposed. This uncertainty, as well as current litigation against state sales tax legislation, has led to the Village to continue to be conservative in projecting the revenue that will be coming in to support services."

The budget for FY2012 provides for $41,024,901 in expenses and $34,520,411 in revenues. Knight said that disparity is due to transfers to debt service and capital projects, making the actual shortfall $600,274. 

According to the village press release, that budget includes "funding for the replacement of the Mitchell Drive water main, demolition costs for buildings related to the Janes Avenue redevelopment efforts, and the intergovernmental cost-saving initiatives of constructing a salt dome and vactor storage site with DuPage County. 

Routine maintenance and upkeep (such as the street crack sealing program), and streetscape efforts that include securing favorable pricing for residents to trim trees, replace sidewalks and driveways are also a part of this year’s budget."

Rush called FY12 a "recovery year." As Woodridge Patch reported in May,

Below are the anticipated budgets for specific departments for FY11 and the budgeted amounts for FY12. 

Halik and Rush indicated costs associated with the makes the police budget slightly higher than last year, from $8,387,418 to $8,555,951.

Halik said that starting in FY13, the village would see the savings from that move, which is said to be $300,000 a year. 

The Public Works' budget is also slightly higher from FY11 to FY12 from $2,927,850 to $3,111,063. Rush said that increase was due to engineering studies that would be done this year.