'Enjoy this while we can': Arlington Heights won't hike tax levy for fifth consecutive year
Arlington Heights trustees are poised to approve a record fifth consecutive year of no increase in the village property tax levy, while eliminating vehicle stickers and dog tags at the same time.
"Vehicle fees had been part of the village's budget for so long that in the initial years, there was a lower fee for horse-drawn carriages than there were for automobiles," said Village Manager Randy Recklaus.
Technically, the 2023 levy is 1.1% higher than the actual extended 2022 levy, taking into account the $1.6 million abated by the village board last March from an unexpected surplus. There's also a "loss and cost" amount applied by Cook County, mainly due to property tax objections.
Still, Finance Director Tom Kuehne attributed this year's levy recommendation to solid post-pandemic sales and income tax receipts, and keeping pension payments on schedule. But he warned there could be more pressure from pension obligations in the future, and sales and income tax revenues will level off.
"We should enjoy this while we can," Kuehne told the elected panel on the first night of budget discussions Monday.
The proposed $231.7 million spending plan for 2024 is a 4.7% increase over the last budget. It's mainly due to a planned $18 million bond issue to pay for street and sidewalk repairs over the next three years.
In the coming year, the village plans to spend $11 million to resurface or rehab streets, $4.2 million to replace old water mains and $4.2 million for stormwater control projects.
That includes stormwater detention, roadside ditches and sewer upgrades near the Forrest Avenue/Hawthorne Street neighborhood. The village expects to receive two Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grants totaling $1.3 million for the $1.7 million project.
Officials have also allocated $1.8 million to replace lead service lines, with a goal of replacing 100 per year in hopes of being done by 2044. The village applied for a state zero interest loan, but didn't qualify based on economic need.
The public works department is exploring the installation of solar panels on the roof of its building, but the related roof replacements to be done first will cost $3.2 million.
The village accounts for about 11% of an average homeowner's property tax bill, while schools encompass about two-thirds. Kuehne noted that individual bills can vary greatly, depending on home improvements, sales in the area, tax appeals by neighbors, and the Cook County Assessor's triennial reassessment.
A department-by-department review of the 474-page budget proposal will continue at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the village boardroom, with another meeting, if needed, at 7 p.m. Thursday. Final approval of the budget and levy is expected Dec. 4.