Road fixes will play large part in Arlington Heights tax levy increase

Arlington Heights officials started discussing the 2016 budget on Monday night, including a proposed 2.79 percent tax levy increase that officials said would largely go toward the village's growing infrastructure needs.

The budget hearing was the first of several meetings this month where the village board will go over different parts of the budget and ask questions before approving the approximately $157.2 million budget to start Jan. 1. This is the first time the village's fiscal year will align with the calendar year.

Of the proposed levy increase, Finance Director Tom Kuehne said most will go to increase the amount the village is spending on road resurfacing and rebuilding.

A study done earlier this year found that the village should be spending at least $8.5 million annually to maintain its roads but was spending only $5.8 million.

“The village's roads are deteriorating faster than we are repairing or replacing them,” said Village Manager Randy Recklaus. “This is not an increase of services, but a maintenance of services. That shows how serious this issue is.”

The 2016 budget also includes $1.2 million for neighborhood drainage improvements and flood control projects, but more costs may emerge when the results of ongoing flood studies are presented to the village board early next year.

On Monday the village also heard from the Arlington Heights Memorial Library about its budget. which requires approval from the village although it is a separate taxing body. The library will not be increasing its tax levy for 2016, said Greg Zyck, library board treasurer.

The lack of decisions about funding and freezes at the state level played a large role in Monday's discussions.

“It is no longer a question of whether the village will be impacted by the state budget crisis, because we already are being impacted,” Recklaus said.

Officials said the uncertainty itself is almost the worst part of the stalemate in Springfield as about 43 percent of the village's general revenue funds come from the state.

The next budget hearing is 7:30 p.m. Thursday at village hall.

The budget can be viewed at www.vah.com.