Vote expected April 17; fiscal year begins May 1

The village of Sugar Grove plans to spend about $4.2 million on operations in the next fiscal year, according to a proposed budget reviewed by the village board Tuesday.

That does not include spending for the water/sewage, refuse and capital projects funds, nor any of the budgets for tax-increment financing districts or special service areas.

The general fund operating budget supports the administration, the streets division and the community development and police departments. The police department accounts for about 52 percent of the expenditures, followed by the streets division. The village proposes spending about $57,000 more than it expects to spend this fiscal year.

The proposed budget expects $4.2 million in revenue, $1.43 million of which will come from property taxes. The result is a surplus of $7,500.

The village expects to spend about $31,000 less on road salt than it did this year, due to having a lot left over because of the mild winter.

The water/sewage budget calls for taking in $3.14 million, but spending $3.76 million. The village’s finance director is recommending that the board raise the base and usage rates 7.25 percent, and increase the monthly water meter fee from $1 to $1.50, effective May 1. The board had raised the rates in August 2011. Water and sewer use have declined the last four years, due to water conservation efforts, cooler and wetter summers, and the effects of the struggling economy.

The capital projects budget includes money for three new police cars.

The Sugar Grove village board will vote on the budget April 17. The fiscal year starts May 1.

The budget can be viewed on the village’s website, sugar-grove.il.us, or at the village hall, 10 S. Municipal Drive.