Mayor: Warrenville's financial outlook remains positive
Warrenville isn't immune to the economic downturn, but Mayor David Brummel says the city hasn't had to cope with the same budgetary problems other towns are facing.
"Unlike the situation in many of our neighbors, I would not characterize our situation as a crisis," Brummel said Thursday during his State of the City address.
The mayor told a crowd of Warrenville Chamber of Commerce members, business leaders and elected officials that the city still has "ample" cash reserves after using about $690,000 to balance this year's budget.
Brummel attributed the city's healthy finances to its lack of debt and "a reasonably diversified" revenue stream.
During the 2011-12 fiscal year, Warrenville will benefit from an estimated $2 million jump in property tax revenue now that the mixed-use Cantera development is no longer part of a tax increment financing district.
"All of our other taxing bodies - the park district, the library district, the fire protection district and school districts 200 and 203 - will also finally benefit from the impressive success of our Cantera TIF," Brummel said. "Our community owes a huge debt of gratitude to those whose foresight and planning and diligence made Cantera a reality."
Other good news related to Cantera includes the anticipated April opening of two hotels. In addition, construction remains on schedule for a proton therapy cancer treatment center and a neighboring comprehensive outpatient cancer center in the development.
Brummel said a temporary certificate of occupancy is expected to be issued for the proton center in March. The rest of the year will be used to train staff and calibrate equipment, with treatment of the first patients slated to start in January 2011.
The outpatient cancer center is expected to seek its occupancy certificate in late June or early July.
Meanwhile, the DuPage County Forest Preserve District is planning to spend about $800,000 to demolish buildings at the former Cenacle property. That project, slated to start in the spring, will return most of the 42-acre parcel to open space.
The forest district also plans to do two projects at Blackwell Forest Preserve. The first is an urban stream research center on the north side of the West Branch of the DuPage River.
"This special facility - one of only a handful in the country - will put Warrenville on the map as a destination to learn best management practices and restoration practices for rivers and streams," said Brummel, adding the facility could be built by November.
The second forest preserve project at Blackwell is a new $500,000 archery range. While the range is expected to be completed in the fall, it won't open to the public until 2011.
"We appear to be stuck in a gap - a gap between good times," Brummel said. "All things considered, there is much to be thankful for here in Warrenville."