Mt. Prospect approves budget with tax, fee increases

Last year, Mount Prospect had to make some painful decisions — including eliminating about 30 positions — to balance its budget for the current year.

On Tuesday, as the village board passed its budget for 2012, most trustees remarked about how unremarkable the process was.

Even though there will be a modest tax hike and increases in fees for sewer and water, and garbage collection, no one from the public spoke or asked questions, much less complained. The board approved an $87.6 million budget, an increase of 0.2 percent. In the budget, $41.5 million is earmarked for the general fund.

Trustees approved two fee increases, including a 5 percent hike in water and sewer rates. and an additional $25 for the annual fee for refuse collection, a 33 percent increase from the current $75.

The tax levy of $15.85 million is up 4.3 percent over the past year. The Consumer Price Index rose 3.4 percent in the 12 months ending Nov. 30.

The board also passed the $9.9 million for the library, a 3.7 percent increase that had already been approved by the library board.

There was no change in the levy for Special Service Area 5, $1.5 million, which was created to bring Lake Michigan water to a part of the village.

When all is said and done, the owner of a home with a market value of $350,000 and an assessed value of $115,000 will pay $947 to the village and $568 to the library, although this would vary based on homeowner exemptions.

The most senior trustee, Paul Hoefert, a veteran of 20 of these budgets, said last year’s cuts set the stage for this year’s budget. Trustee Michael Zadel said even though it may be relatively unremarkable, a great deal of work went into the budget.

Trustee John Matuszak registered his concern about the possible impact on public safety, in particular the staffing levels for the fire department.

Mayor Irvana Wilks, referring to last year’s cuts, gave credit to the village departments for adjusting to economic realities.

The village board also passed an amended budget to cover extraordinary expenses, to make sure the spending did not exceed what was authorized by law.

Finance Director David Erb mentioned, for example, that this year, the summer storm events cost the village $637,000. The amendment increased the budget by $3.1 million.