WB_120519

wilmettebeacondaily.com NEWS
the wilmette beacon | December 5, 2019 | 3
Wilmette Village Board
Posted to WilmetteBeaconDaily.com 8 days ago
Approved 2020 budget includes ‘significant’ road resurfacing, stormwater utility fee
Todd Marver
Freelance Reporter
With the end of the
calendar year rapidly approaching,
the Wilmette
Village Board approved
the fiscal year 2020 budget
at $99.681 million at
its Tuesday, Nov. 26 meeting.
The budget has more
dollars dedicated to road
resurfacing ($5.3 million)
than anytime in at least
the last 20 years. This includes
$2.75 million for
the annual road program
(approximately 28 blocks
resurfaced), $1.2 million
for reconstruction of Central
Avenue and $1.3 million
for road resurfacing
associated with Phase 1A
of the stormwater project.
“This is a very responsible
budget,” Village
President Bob Bielinski
said. “It maintains service
levels and it also includes
significant investments in
our municipal infrastructure,
notably more than $5
million for roads. That’s
the highest amount the
Village has budgeted in
any single year for roads
for at least the past 20
years.”
There is no increase
in the water rate and the
water rate has not increased
for six of the last
eight years. The water
fund budget includes $5
million for the completion
of the water plant
electrical improvements.
Other improvements include
$2.92 million for
water main replacements
on Central and Lake avenues,
$88,000 for valve
installations, $40,000 for
the rebuild of the water
plant high-lift pump,
$21,000 for transmission
main repairs and $12,000
for water main surge suppressors.
The sewer fee
has a 4 percent increase,
which is the first increase
since 2015. There is an estimated
annual impact of
$13 for the average ratepayer.
A new stormwater
utility fee is effective Jan.
1 and the average annual
residential fee is $144.
The sewer fund budget
includes $23.21 million
for Phases 1A and 1 of the
stormwater project.
“We have the first phase
of the Neighborhood
Stormwater Improvement
Project coming, which is
a significant amount of
money,” Bielinski said.
The sewer fund budget
also includes $820,000
for sewer lining, $400,000
for storm water pumping
station electrical improvements,
$337,000
for sewer main repairs,
$322,000 for sewer maintenance,
$70,000 for the
Rain Ready program and
$60,000 for smoke testing.
Building permits,
vehicle licenses and ambulance
fees have held flat
for six years. The 2019 tax
levy ordinance was introduced
at the meeting and
will be adopted on Dec.
10. The levy increase is
4.99 percent.
“While 4.99 percent is
the biggest of the three
years that I’ve been serving
on the board, I do feel
like it reflects priorities
ROUND IT UP
A brief recap of Village Board action from Nov. 26
· The board tabled adoption of an ordinance
establishing a stormwater utility and related fees
to the Dec. 10 meeting.
· The board approved waiving competitive bids for
the purpose of negotiating terms with StormTrap
for the pre-purchase of pre-cast concrete units for
Phase 1 of the stormwater project at Community
Playfield.
and it also reflects discretion
about how far we
could take those priorities,”
Trustee Joel Kurzman
said.
The 4.99 percent levy
increase includes 1.43
percent for operations,
0.75 percent for pensions,
0.12 percent for debt services
and 2.69 percent for
the road program.
“The property tax increase
for general operations
was only 1.43
percent,” Bielinski said.
“That’s really a reflection
of how well the staff continues
to manage the Village.”
Please see Village, 7
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