Wauconda officials adopt leaner budget
Wauconda trustees on Tuesday approved an estimated $21.7 budget for the 2017 fiscal year.
The spending plan is about $1 million leaner than the budget for the current fiscal year, which ends April 30.
The pending closure of the village's 911 center and planning reductions in capital improvements contributed to the decrease, Village Administrator Doug Maxeiner said. That change is expected to reduce expenses by about $583,000 next year, he said.
Wauconda officials voted last year to outsource the 911 service to save money. Starting May 11, Lake Zurich's 911 center will handle emergency calls for Wauconda police and the fire district.
The budget includes money for a variety of municipal projects and purchases, such as:
• The second phase of the effort to connect to a Lake Michigan water system, at an estimated cost of $4.4 million.
• A new paint job for the water tower in the downtown area, which could cost $468,500.
• Four new police patrol cars, which could cost $164,000.
• The replacement of police officer sidearms, at a cost of $17,000.
Those handguns are being replaced "for the first time in about two decades," Maxeiner said.
Wauconda's projected revenue is expected to decrease from the current fiscal year's total, but not as significantly as spending.
Officials predict village hall will collect nearly $22 million in property taxes, fees and other income over the next year. That sum is down from about $22.2 million.
The 911 center's mothballing contributed to the decrease, Maxeiner said. The Wauconda Fire Protection District and the police departments in Tower Lakes and Lakemoor paid the village to handle their 911 calls.
The center's closure means the village will lose about $270,000 in potential revenue, Maxeiner said.
Additionally, the village's utility tax revenue is expected to decrease about $52,000, Maxeiner said.
Conversely, property-tax revenue is expected to increase by nearly $32,000 and revenue from sales tax, income tax and video gaming are expected to jump nearly $399,000, he said.
Before Tuesday's unanimous vote, Trustee Tim Howe thanked Maxeiner and his staff for crafting a "financially responsible" budget.
Trustee John Barbini said he was proud to support the plan.
"Bottom line? We're living within our means," Barbini said.