Village OK’s Decreased Budget, Electric Aggregation Plan

Most Romeoville taxpayers will see some savings on the village portion of their tax bills next year, according to officials.

on Wednesday signed off on a $91.4 million overall budget, which represents a 6 percent, or $5.5 million, decrease from the current budget.

“The levy is the same as last year,” Mayor John Noak said, noting village taxes will make up about 14 percent over residents’ overall tax bills next year — down from 15 percent.

“We’re heading in the right direction,” Noak said. He said the average homeowner will see the village portion of their tax bill drop by $4 next year.

A tax rebate in the form of a $20 discount on October 2012 water bills will also return for the second year in a row.

Upcoming projects and plans for for fiscal year 2012-13 include:

• Renovations at football field - $600,000, funded by bonds and recreation department funds
• $2 million in street resurfacing projects, including Murphy Drive, funded by bonds and local motor fuel tax funding
• Phase 2 of the Edward “Doc” McCartan Veterans Memorial - $716,000, funded by tax increment financing (TIF) dollars
• Installation of a turn lane at Route 53 and Romeo Road (Walgreens) - $325,000, paid for with TIF funding
• Engineering for a traffic signal at Route 53 and the entrance to Hansen Material Service - $105,000 funded by bond money and grant funding
• Bumping up the position of Romeoville Emergency Management Agency director/safety coordinator from part time to full time, at a cost of $65,200

Noak had one more piece of good news, he said: a second fireworks show will be added back to RomeoFest this year after having been eliminated.

 “As good as all this sounds, it’s still tough out there,” Noak said. “We remain guarded and on watch.”

After a brief public hearing — no one showed up to speak — trustees also signed off on a pair or resolutions related to electric aggregation.

In March, to join with 17 other members of the Will County Governmental League to aggregate, or bundle, the communities’ electricity loads to seek rate bids from ComEd competitors, with the aim of decreasing homeowners’ power bills.

The bids would be for the supply side only, since ComEd will continue to be responsible for delivering power to homes.

On Wednesday, trustees approved an intergovernmental agreement making Romeoville part of the Will County Electric Aggregation Group.

The village also adopted an Electric Aggregation Plan of Governance on Wednesday, paving the way for implementing an opt-out electric aggregation program.

“These are the next steps we need to take to move forward with this,” Assistant Village Manager Dawn Caldwell said.

Caldwell said the group can expect to begin receiving requests for proposals from power providers by late May or early June, meaning it will be a few months before residents will begin seeing a savings on their electric bills.

If the electric aggregation group does award a contract to a low bidder, homeowners won’t be forced to switch power providers.

Residents will be given several opportunities to opt out of the program and either go out on their own to seek a lower rate or stick with ComEd.

“If you feel that you’re more comfortable with another power provider … feel free to take advantage of that, or take advantage of this, or stay where you are,” Noak said.

Trustee Jose Chavez did have some words of caution for residents who go out on their own to find a new electricity provider.

“Read the fine print before you make a move,” he said, noting many power companies charge a penalty to customers who cancel their contracts early.