Buffalo Grove budget features tax rate decrease, water and sewer rate hike

Buffalo Grove will have a balanced budget in 2019, under a plan presented to the village board this week that will see both revenues and expenses rise about 3 percent.

The proposed budget also includes a $4 million surplus, with $78 million in expenses and $82 million in revenues. The surplus will help the village increase its funding for police and fire pensions, which in all will account for $5.4 million of spending next year.

Under the budget proposal, the property tax levy will be $16.4 million, a net increase of 2.5 percent. However, the village's tax rate will lower three-tenths of 1 percent.

Residents can expect a hike in water and sewer rates, as well. Under the plan, the rate will increase beginning Jan. 1 from $6.14 per 1,000 gallons to $6.39, a nearly 4 percent hike.

The plan will fund about $7.8 million of more than $21 million in requested capital projects, including street improvements and water system upgrades. Of the remaining projects not funded through this budget, about $3 million worth were deferred to 2020, while another $11 million is being considered for a possible debt issue in 2019 or later.

Among the other highlights planned for the 2019 budget cycle is the launch of the new village website and the production of informational videos. The village plans to spend $20,000 for video programming targeted to social media and hire a community engagement manager.

Village Manager Dane Bragg said the village enters the 2019 budget cycle with a strong balance sheet, having recently retired $3.4 million in debt issued to address the emerald ash borer.

Bragg said two notable projects that are fully funded for 2019 are the replacement of the Combined Area Fire Training Facility building and the beginning of the Weiland/Lake-Cook Road improvement project. The village will fund pedestrian, lighting and parkway tree improvements for the latter project.

The budget also calls for a 2.5-percent wage increase for non-police and fire employees. The village will have 218 full-time and 55 part-time employee positions in 2019.

The village board is expected to vote on the budget when it meets Dec. 3.