W. Dundee OKs cuts in services, tax hike

West Dundee trustees unanimously approved a balanced 2009-2010 fiscal year budget that includes cutbacks, expected reductions in sales tax receipts and a property tax hike for homeowners.

"It is pretty bare-bones, pretty straightforward," Village President Larry Keller said. "There was some major belt-tightening. Rather than remove programs people depend upon, we have cut back on the level of services instead of cutting service itself."

Property owners can expect to shell out about 18 percent more than last year.

The new budget's anticipated property tax rate will be 90 cents per $100 equalized assessed evaluation, up from the current rate of 76 cents.

That means the owner of a $250,000 home will pay about $750 - or about $110 more - for village services. The village is asking for about $2.612 million in taxes to cover items such as police and fire pension funds, Social Security and liability insurance.

For the fiscal year beginning May 1, the village staff anticipates a loss of more than $420,000 in sales tax revenues, from $2.92 million in 2008-2009 to a number of $2.5 million next year.

Still, overall general fund revenues will increase about $167,000, to more than $8.2 million, Finance Director David Danielson said in a memorandum outlining the budget.

The village budgeted a surplus of about $3,000.

Capital improvements like road repairs have been downsized from rebuilding projects to emergency resurfacing programs, Keller said.

The village previously undertook an annual $1 million road repair program but has instead set aside about $50,000 for patching work, Keller said.

In addition, most staff members will not receive a cost of living raise, and no new personnel - either full- or part-time - will be hired.

Budget: West Dundee trimming 'levels of service,' not 'service itself'