Nonunion raises proposed in Lake in the Hills
The village of Lake in the Hills is projecting a balanced budget for 2012 that includes 2-percent raises for nonunion employees.
At a public hearing on the proposed budget Tuesday, Village Administrator Gerald Sagona said the village’s general fund expenditures for 2012 are projected at $15.69 million and revenues at $15.72 million, yielding an end-of-year surplus of almost $26,500. No residents attended the hearing.
Revenues for 2012 are estimated to be almost $700,000 lower than this year’s because the village took in fees related to the development of the Residences of Lake in the Hills, a senior housing project, Sagona said.
Nonunion employees have not received raises in two years, officials said.
Next year, officials plan a 5-percent increase for the water tap-on fee, a one-time charge for new connections to the village’s water system, Public Works Director Fred Mullard said. The fee would be $14,465 in 2012, and would help pay for future capital improvement projects.
The proposed budget also calls for a 5-percent increase in water rates, which would amount to 63 cents per month for residents who use 800 cubic feet of water per quarter, officials said. “In comparison with 13 neighboring communities, this would put us in the middle of the pack,” Mullard said.
The replacement of four squad cars for the police department — all with more than 100,000 miles per vehicle — will cost $105,390 as part of the police department’s nearly $7.4 million budget.
The public works department’s budget, at $3.3 million, includes $1.3 million in infrastructure maintenance and $42,000 for a drainage improvement project at Indian Trail and Locust Street.
Among the projects included are a bike path link at Sunset Park, drinking fountains at Ken Carpenter and Ford School parks, and a new pier at Indian Trail beach.
There are also proposed 3-percent increases in tenant rate fees and commercial activity fees for the Lake in the Hills Airport. Airport manager Manny Gomez said the increases are based on current consumer price index data, and will help offset expenses such as Service Employees International Union salary increases, as per a new contract that went into effect last month.
The village board is expected to approve the 2012 budget at its meeting at 7:30 p.m. today.