Sugar Grove board approves budget

The Sugar Grove village board Tuesday approved a 2011-12 budget that calls for spending 3.6 percent more on general operating expenses, compared to what it expects to spend by the end of the current fiscal year.

The budget takes effect May 1.

It calls for $4.14 million in spending in the general fund, which covers things like salaries, benefits, supplies and office machine contracts for all village departments except the water and sewer division. The general capital, infrastructure capital, debt service and police pension spending are also not included in the general fund budget.

The police department accounts for 49 percent of the general fund expenditures, followed by the streets division at 19 percent. Property taxes supply 33 percent of the money for the general fund. Fifty percent of the revenue comes from other taxes, including the village’s share of the state income tax and sales tax, and taxes on utility and telecommunications bills.

The general capital fund spending will increase 75 percent, from $588,921 this year to $1.03 million in 2011-12. Part of that will be for paving Granart Road, estimated to cost more than $400,000.

Village President Sean Michels said the village has been setting aside money from developer impact fees for such work, and felt its fund reserves were high enough to start doing more roadwork.