The Peoria Heights Village Board has adopted a fiscal year 2024 budget that anticipates nearly $4.9 million in spending against a like amount in expected revenues. The fiscal year begins May 1.
The board approved a balanced budget a year ago, as well, but ultimately 2023’s financial performance far exceeded expectations, with the Village generating a budget surplus that exceeded $1 million. That has permitted the Village to lower its property tax levy, which it will do again for this coming fiscal year. “Lowering a property tax levy is always a good thing,” said Trustee Brandon Wisenburg.
The surplus also has put the Village in a challenging if also somewhat enviable position, which is figuring out what to do with that extra $1 million plus.
There are multiple options. The Village could spend it to expand and improve services – on more police officers, for example – or invest in aged and compromised infrastructure, such as the Heights’ water system. It could put the money aside for a rainy day, though after several consecutive years of improved fiscal discipline, the Village’s fund balances are healthy. It could return the money to taxpayers by further lowering property taxes, an option favored by some trustees. Or the board could do some combination of all the above.
In any case, it’s a nice position to be in, said Mayor Michael Phelan, who pointed to the Village’s conservative budget practices and fiscal discipline, along with a healthy local economy that continues to attract investment, for producing the surge in revenues over expenditures that have put the Village in this position. Those decisions likely will be the subject of much debate over the coming weeks.
In other developments, the Board:
Approved the expenditure of $4,471 in Business Development District funds for façade improvements including signage at Bust’d Brewing Company, 4408 N. Prospect Road. The latter represents the first brewing operation in Peoria Heights since Pabst closed its local operation in 1982.
Debated the pros and cons of spending nearly $150,000 on an outdoor fitness court, targeted potentially for the current Lions Park site on Glen Avenue. The fitness facility would be a collaboration between the Village, the California-based National Fitness Campaign and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois, which is providing grants of up to $50,000 to help defray the costs. The goal is to improve overall community health.
After several trustees expressed concerns about not having enough time or information upon which to make a decision, the matter was deferred. Ongoing maintenance costs were a particular worry. Beyond that, other Village needs may be of a higher priority, said some. Private funds could be raised to offset some of the costs, said others.
“I’d like us to keep an open mind,” said Phelan. The budget surplus does permit some spending on quality-of-life projects, he said, and this investment would potentially stabilize the surrounding neighborhoods and provide a welcome mat to the community along the popular Rock Island Greenway, while further distinguishing the Heights as a recreation destination.
Announced the completion of an upgraded Duryea Dog Park, also along the recreational trail, which now has new rock that is safer for pets and a water fountain for them. Meanwhile, the Village owns vacant properties throughout the community that could be converted to pocket parks with playground equipment in recreationally underserved neighborhoods, said Public Works Superintendent Chris Chandler. Those options are being explored.
Announced a $16,000 tourism grant award from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to help pay for events such as the Kris Kringle Market, Taste of the Heights and the Fine Art Fair. Meanwhile, the Board learned that a new water main on Galena Road for which the Village has requested up to $1.9 million in federal funding has cleared a major hurdle, with Congressman Eric Sorensen naming the project to his priority spending list for the coming year. The project still is subject to the congressional appropriations process.
Discussed the ongoing problem of motorists driving well above posted speed limits in the Heights. Wisenburg indicated that speeding is the most common complaint he gets from constituents. Heights police write a high number of speeding tickets relative to other communities, but they can’t be everywhere, and other measures are needed, he said.
One option could be the purchase of portable speed humps. “I think the solution is simple: to put something in their way,” said Wisenburg. “We do need to calm traffic,” agreed Trustee Elizabeth Khazzam.