Northbrook approves 2022-23 budget that establishes fund for future capital projects

Trustees held a public hearing on Northbrook's budget for fiscal year 2022-23 budget before it was ultimately approved at a board meeting Tuesday.

The total budget for all funds is roughly $104 million; the total general fund is about $49 million.

Trustee Robert Israel led the hearing, first noting that a change was made for the water fund, under the Water Main Replacement Capital Account, to appropriate an increase in funds by a total of $515,770 to reflect an increase in actual costs of water main replacement projects based on bids the village received after a March 8 administration and finance meeting.

A memo from Chief Financial Officer Iwona Petryszak to Village Manager Cara Pavlicek attributes the increase to rising material and labor costs.

Israel said the budget has increased 10%, and full-time employment has increased around 4% from 262 to 272.

Future facilities improvements were also part of the budget.

"This budget establishes a new facility capital projects fund for future municipal buildings needs, which at this time looks to include the renovation or replacement of Fire Station 11, the police station and the public works maintenance garage," Israel said.

Other items highlighted in the budget include;

• The general fund, without special revenue funds, is projected to have an approximately $46,000 surplus.

• Transfers of $212,500 to the Police Pension Fund and $212,500 to the Fire Pension Fund from ambulance transport fees from fiscal year 2022-23 and 2023-24 are assumed.

• New board initiatives include climate action plan forestry, $420,500; department organizational assessments, $120,000; village demonstration garden, $50,000; branding study, $75,000; new zoning code, $75,000 for additional events and $30,000 for banners.

• Building repairs and improvements are budgeted at $1.4 million, street and sidewalks maintenance at $4.77 million, water main projects at $3.2 million, stormwater projects at $790,550, sanitary sewer projects at $466,000 and senior housing building improvements at $834,000.

Resident Tony Riccardi was the only person to speak during the public comment period on the budget.

"I have always thought of Northbrook as a town that operated in a fiscally-responsible manner while recognizing the importance of its tax base. I want to feel like we are fiscally responsible today," Riccardi said. "While the town has increased revenue from various grants and bonds, the expenditures from my looking at the budget have exploded."

Riccardi noted the budget increased from $83 million in 2020, $88 million in 2021, $95 million in 2022 and $103 million in 2023.

"Given the condition of Northbrook Court, the Grainger property on Shermer (Road), extremely generous retirement packages provided to the former village manager and various other areas, I'm concerned with Northbrook's ability to control its expenditures while maintaining the current tax base, and attracting new development," Riccardi said.