Hoffman Estates to consider 2.6 percent levy hike Monday

Hoffman Estates' village board Monday will consider a 2.6 percent increase in its property tax levy next year to help cover a projected 4.6 percent hike in costs in the proposed 2017 budget.

Most of the cost increase is related to pensions, Village Manager Jim Norris said. The village won't see a rise in the costs of services such as police and fire protection, and will be able to improve more roads than it did in 2016, he said.

The proposed budget sets 2017 revenues in the general fund at $56 million - a 1.4 percent increase over 2016 - and expenses at $58.4 million. With a fund transfer of nearly $2.4 million for capital improvement projects, budgeted revenues are anticipated to exceed expenses by $14,960.

Village officials are budgeting an aggregate 2.5 percent increase in salaries for nonunion employees for the year. Among union workers, both police officers and public works employees will get 2 percent raises at the start of the year, while firefighters will get 1 percent raises on Jan. 1 and July 1.

A new contract for police sergeants likely will be approved on Monday as well, for salary amounts the rest of the budget anticipates, Norris said.

The 2017 property tax levy is proposed at $19.7 million - an increase of $490,518 over last year's.

The long-lingering impact of emerald ash borer costs is expected to come down significantly in 2017, from $580,000 this year to $95,000.

The budget also anticipates possible negative impacts from the state's budget impasse, Norris said.

Each village department was held without any increase in the initial proposed budget, with the overall prioritization of additional spending discussed afterward.

The village board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, at village hall, 1900 Hassell Road.