West Dundee's budget soars

The preliminary hole in West Dundee's 2008-2009 general fund budget could get deeper with the addition of money for downtown landscaping projects.

Village Finance Director David Danielson presented a revised budget Monday night that included $26,000 for the building and grounds division to spruce up planters along Main Street, as well as the village hall grounds.

The village had anticipated a $347,000 deficit in next year's budget and now faces a $373,000 shortfall with the inclusion of the landscaping monies.

Danielson said at least $20,000 of that money would fund downtown landscaping work during the summer, while the exterior of village hall would benefit from the remaining balance.

"This is not just sticking a few petunias in planters," said Danielson, after trustees suggested the sum was exorbitant.

Village Manager Joe Cavallaro said the money would include all plantings and maintenance of the landscaping.

Initially, village staff had not planned for landscape work in next year's budget.

In previous years, Danielson said the village had included about $80,000 in landscaping expenses.

Furthermore, village staff recommended an additional $120,000 in the capital project fund to pay for needed road patching throughout the town, especially along Boncosky and Huntley roads.

"We will step up the patching project," Danielson said. "This is significantly higher than what the village typically spends on patching, which is about ($20,000) to $30,000 a year villagewide."

Trustees again also discussed a proposed real estate transfer tax to overcome the shortfall.

Under the proposal, village officials are mulling a real-estate transfer tax imposed on buyers of residential and commercial property in the village.

The tax, which would be set at a rate of $5 per $1,000 of the property's value, would generate more than $200,000 annually, village staff said.

A real-estate transfer tax would require resident approval by referendum on the November ballot.

Trustees are expected to make a decision on the tax's fate at its next board meeting scheduled for Monday, April 21.