Village Outlines Balanced Budget, Plans for Challenges Ahead

A desire to find additional cost reductions remained a theme even as Buffalo Grove officials prided staff members for presenting a balanced 2013 budget Monday night.

Village Manager Dane Bragg and department leaders proposed a $61.4 million budget for next year. The total budget, which Bragg called “very lean,” represents a 5.4 percent increase over 2012.

“I would describe this year’s budget as both forward looking and sustainable,” said Bragg, who noted that it addresses residents’ needs as well as infrastructure needs.

•  See the budget's draft in the PDF at right

While the budget includes new expenditures for the replacement of ash trees and the new rental home inspection program, it also includes cost savings from reductions in staff. The village will not replace nine full- and part-time staff members next year.

“We’re at the lowest employee count we’ve seen in 15 years,” Bragg said.

Staffing will also be reduced at the police and fire departments, their chiefs said. While the overall fire department budget is expected to rise 1.3 percent to nearly $7.9 million in 2013, personnel expenses will decline 2.5 percent because three vacant positions will not be filled, Chief Terry Vavra said. However, the department expects to spend more on benefits, operations, equipment and repairs, he said.

The police department will leave two full-time positions vacant next year, Chief Steve Balinski said, and it will also eliminate a couple of part-time positions.

The village’s overall budget calls for the first capital reserve transfer that Buffalo Grove has needed in five years, but the village expects to maintain a fund balance of nearly 30 percent.

Throughout Monday night’s presentation, Village President Jeff Braiman asked village staff to look for ways to cut costs further in areas such as training and traveling for professional development, police and fire vehicles, and police department expenses including crossing guards for area school districts and officers assigned to represent the department in court.

He also asked village staff to follow up with a report as to how many citizens take advantage of the late office hours at Village Hall, which remains open until 7:30 p.m. on Mondays. Two staff members are paid to work during those nights.

“This is a road map, this budget. Just because we approve a budget doesn’t mean you can’t spend less,” Braiman said.

Future expenses were on the minds of others, as well. “You and your staff are doing an outstanding job of providing service without overburdening the residents,” Trustee Jeff Berman said. But, he predicted, budget challenges will continue.

In a five-year projection that begins in 2013, the village expects a $2 million deficit in its operating budget in 2014.

The Village Board will vote on the proposed 2013 budget on Dec. 3. Trustees will also vote that night on the proposed $14.4 million tax levy, which represents a 1.5 percent increase over last year. In all, Finance Director Scott Anderson said, 11 percent of residents’ property tax bills will be paid to the village.