The La Grange Board Monday unanimously approved an operating and capital improvement budget of over $43 million.
The actual projected numbers come to $42,861,804 for revenues, against budgeted expenditures of $43,365,295, leaving a deficit of just over $500,000. The deficit will be covered by the General Fund’s reserve balance, estimated at $13.3 million by the end of FY 2024-2025.
The projections reflect an increase of 3.65 % in revenues over the previous year, against a 13.01 % increase in expenditures.
Trustee Glenn Thompson introduced the ordinance for approval, giving an overview of the budget, which can be found on the Village’s website under the April 22, 2024 agenda.
“This year’s budget reflects our being fully staffed across all operating departments,” he said.
Thompson stressed the Village’s commitment to improving aging infrastructure, saying the budget included “$7.3 million capital expenditures for next year.”
The $7.3 million in Capital improvements are a significant expenditure in the budget. Major projects include the South Basin sewer improvements, street reconstruction on Brainard and Shawmut avenues, sewer lining throughout the Village, streetscape improvements in both the downtown and West End business districts, and engineering and construction costs related to the 50th Street storm sewer project.
At $21,121,463, La Grange’s General Fund makes up slightly under half of the total budgeted expenditures, with expenditures for the police ($4,691,791), fire department ($3,026,968), public works ($1,745,488), and community development ($1,447,998).
Other significant funds in the budgeted expenditures are the water fund ($5,062,429), the police pension fund ($2,908,879), the fire pension ($1,927,139), and the sewer fund ($1,362,347).
The La Grange Public Library, being a municipal library and not a separate taxing body, is also included in the budget, coming in at $3,575,022 in projected expenses, a 5.32 % increase from last year.
The budget was approved without comment from the trustees or the public.
Contacted later, Village President Mark Kuchler said he was pleased with the budget.
“I like that we’re continuing to heavily invest in capital improvements, I like that we’re continuing to spend all the money as fiscally responsible as possible, and I like that we continue to look for grants and other revenue sources,” he said.
The next La Grange Board of Trustees meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. May 13, at the La Grange Village Hall, 53 S. La Grange Road.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
