2026 Bad News Budget Bloaters

   I have complained at Board meetings since July about the budget secrecy and the fact that the public and the Village Board have been locked out of budget development.

   Dave Baker personally caused this when he set up this closed procedure for the budget development to be driven at private meetings by staff wants, needs, and desires, while refusing to allow the transparency of committee open meeting discussions or trustee involvement. I was the lone voice on the board, and unfortunately, the inexperience of the other board members perhaps inadvertently caused them to follow the lead of Baker and Jacobs.

   Both Dave Baker and John Jacobs assured us that it would be a TIGHT BUDGET, but that it would still replace and provide the usual funds for capital road projects. I took a "we'll see" attitude, since I had no other support from the Board to do anything else. I did warn everyone that I talked to that I expected a nasty "October surprise" and sure enough we got it.

Plain and simple - I think this budget is a disaster and a turning point to an extended period of significantly higher taxes.

   The excuse is that there was sudden discovery of a $250,000 shortfall in revenues for 2025. Even if we take this story at face value, it does not justify the excessive spending and borrowing plan.    We have $400,000 missing from the Capital Projects Fund, $90,000 cash taken from undesignated funds for use in balancing this budget, $800,000 for a "wants and desires" 4-bay garage, and apparently $3,000,000 in borrowing for road projects. 

   This apparently is because of a lack of fiscal discipline, in that every time a few hundred thousand is saved up for Capital projects, someone seems to find some other use for it. The balance is at $0 currently in that fund as of this budget.

   Every department budget is up significantly in this "tight budget" that has "loose money" built into it. The police budget has been going up by leaps and bounds - from $940K in 2022, to $1,740,000 in this budget. An 85% increase in 4 years at a time when the population has risen maybe 7-8%.

   Compare that to Public works which has effectively maintained Village infrastructure with only a 2.5 - 3% per year increase. 11% increase since 2022.

   It was apparent to me that "the fix was in", and that the only reason for all the budget secrecy was to get away with something that they would not have gotten away with if transparency and public involvement had existed in this process.

   The behavior of the police in this regard was particularly troubling. They sprung their "want" of 2 new officers, an additional cruiser, other capital equipment and a part of the new garage all at the last minute at the APC budget presentation.

   They did this without review, discussion, or any substantial information at CLIPP committee, as is required by Village ordinance; they based their case to APC and the Board solely on what I see as skewed, misleading, and irrelevant statistics, and a skilled sales pitch.    

   Then, someone orchestrated a letter-writing campaign to the Village Board with glowing support for these expenditures, and brought in a group in support to the meeting. All before the vast majority of the public even knew what was in the budget or that the special budget meeting was being held.

   What was needed or not needed is not the issue here. That is a matter that should have been discussed weeks ago. The issue is what I'll call the strong-arm, prearranged, underhanded tactics that took place here to ramrod this past an inexperienced Village Board, most of which were doing their first budget. No one can tell me that the Chief just suddenly realized at the last minute that he wanted/needed these things. 

   The lack of above-board transparency serves to undermine trust and the integrity and honesty of a representative government and respect for taxpayers. I think it was shameful and inexcusable.

   Treasurer Jacobs published the budget as it stood Wednesday night. He said NOW IS THE TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON IT. He says that the Board can still make changes to the budget based on public input, and that any changes beyond that can still be made right up to the Board's approval of the budget. He says that these changes can include any cuts or other spending that might be suggested, and might include additional INCREASES IN THE TAX LEVY if the Board chooses to do so.

The treasurer has been in effect spearheading Village policy to shift from a balanced budget to a tax/borrow/spend mentality, suggesting that a 5-6 mil rate is within reason (currently barely over 4). Unfortunately the new Board is following that lead, "trusting staff" to do what the Board themselves should be doing. Whether or not they realize the how upcoming decisions will affect the Village for years, I don't know.

Given these facts, don't be surprised if we get a "November Surprise" in this budget as well.