Buffalo Grove budget calls for more employees, flat tax levy

The phrase "the more things change, the more they remain the same" applies to Buffalo Grove's approach to its property tax levy, which is likely to stay flat for the third year in a row.

Next month, the village board will vote on the proposed $17.1 million property tax levy for next year, along with a $118.4 million 2022 budget. The budget includes $48.9 million for general operations and calls for a heavy infusion of infrastructure spending, increased staffing and less outsourcing.

"I want to say how impressed all of us are with how we could, on the one hand, keep the tax levy flat and yet move forward in so many different ways to accomplish so many different things," Trustee Dave Weidenfeld said during the budget presentation to the village board Monday.

After reducing its workforce last year through early retirement incentives and outsourcing, the village this year eliminated 14 other full-time positions, bringing its total employee count to the lowest point in the last 20 years.

But in 2022, the village plans to reinstate seven full-time positions, bringing the total to 209 full-time employees. New positions would include a community engagement director and a community engagement specialist.

"It's important to note that our total employment for 2022 still remains lower than our prepandemic levels by 4½ full-time equivalent positions," Village Manager Dane Bragg said.

Last year, the village outsourced some snow removal, tree trimming and vehicle maintenance services.

"Some of those initiatives worked very well, while others didn't deliver the level of service or cost efficiency that we expected," Bragg said. "We will be bringing snow and ice control activities and some vehicle maintenance functions back in-house to meet our service level and cost expectations."

Bragg said the village intends to spend $18.1 million on capital projects next year, including $5.2 million for water and sewer improvements and $700,000 for upgrades at the Arboretum Club golf course.