Public Hearing, Budget Vote Set for Wednesday

trustees are scheduled to vote on an operating budget for 2011-2012 following a public hearing Wednesday night. The proposed $96.2 million overall budget represents a slight decrease from last year’s $98.2 million budget.

At the March 23 budget presentation, Mayor John Noak said Romeoville homeowners will receive a property tax rebate in the form of a $20 credit on their water bills next fall. Paired with lower property tax assessments, that would translate to roughly $26 in savings for the average taxpayer.

The current tax rate, set at $1.10 per $100 of equalized assessed valuation, will also likely be lowered, Noak said.

Village Manager Steve Gulden said a public hearing will take place following Wednesday’s village board workshop meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. at village hall, 1050 W. Romeo Road.

The hearing will precede the regular meeting and will begin immediately following the conclusion of the workshop, according to Gulden.

Here are some highlights of the proposed 2011-2012 budget:

• Salary expenditures of $26.6 million, up from $25.4 million last year
• $5.2 million in funding for the , an 8 percent increase that includes the addition of a part-time office assistant, two battalion chiefs and three lieutenants
• $12.05 budgeted for the , a 3 percent increase that includes the cost of filling five vacant patrol positions
• $131,200 in funding for the
• $3.5 million in police and fire pension funds, a 6 percent increase from 2010
• $3.6 million for the recreation department, a 0 percent increase
• Capital projects including in-house street resurfacing, a fence along Normantown from Essex to Schmidt road, the purchase of several new squad cars and an ambulance lease, and improvements at several local parks