Road repairs aplenty in Wheaton's proposed $95.7 million budget

Wheaton residents can expect to see plenty of roadwork in the city this summer if the city council approves its proposed $95.7 million budget for 2015-16.

The budget includes a significant increase - about $4.8 million - in spending on capital projects, including road repairs, sidewalk improvements and sanitary and stormwater sewer work, City Manager Don Rose said.

"We've gotten behind the curve on many things," he said. "There's just a lot of stuff out there that's in need of repair and the council has noted that over the years and has tried to make an effort to concentrate our spending in those areas."

Revenues in the proposed budget fall about $4.6 million short of expenditures, but the differential will be covered by money in the city's reserves, Rose said. About $1 million, he noted, will come from a bond fund, where money has been sitting for about four years, earmarked for road improvements.

One of the biggest and most noticeable road projects, Rose said, will be the complete reconstruction of Main Street, between Cole Avenue and Geneva Road.

Drivers also can expect improvements at several intersections, including a new traffic signal at West and Childs streets and pavement work where Roosevelt Road intersects with Warrenville Road/West Street, Naperville Road, President Street and Blanchard Street.

"Some of the other stuff is underground work and nobody seems to notice that unless it is happening on their street," Rose said.

Despite the increased spending this year on capital work - which totals about $15.8 million - personnel costs, including salaries and benefits, remain the biggest expenditure for the city.

Taxes, which are expected to bring in $32.6 million this year, also remain the biggest source of revenue. The second largest source of revenues is charges for services, including water and sewer service charges, ambulance services, parking permits and meter collections.

In December, the city council approved levying about $18.6 million in property taxes, which is a little less than last year. Roughly 48 percent of that money goes toward general government, while the rest goes toward the library, loan payments and pensions.

Residents are welcome to share their feedback on the proposed budget - which is available for viewing on the city's website, under "quick links" - during a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday at city hall. The city council is expected to adopt the budget on April 20.