By Bugle Staff
nweditor@buglenewspapers.com
@DownersGrvBugle
The Woodridge Village Board recently approved the village’s 2016 budget, and Woodridge commuters can expect to pay more at the pump.
Board members approved a 1.5 cent per gallon increase to the motor fuel tax as part of the upcoming budget, which the village said was needed to support road maintenance costs. The increase is expected to bring in approximately $300,000 in additional revenues for Woodridge’s annual road maintenance program.
The $47 million budget also includes funding for road maintenance projects and improvements to the water system, including the replacement of valves, hydrants, and the repainting of a water tower. Funding for the continued removal of parkway ash trees and the planting of a diverse species of replacement trees was earmarked, as well.
Additionally, the village said its 2016 budget does not increase the village’s portion of the property tax.
The budget also addresses strategic goals established by the village board for 2016. Those objectives include reducing residential property tax through intergovernmental collaboration, creating a community slogan with resident input, encouraging reinvestment by land and business owners, and expanding the existing economic development program to attract and retain businesses.
Additional goals for the year are to establish a Woodridge business advocate group to help support businesses in the village, creating a youth commission to help engage youth in the community, establishing sustainable sources of revenue to fund village services, and completing an analysis of facility needs for the public works and police departments.
Prior to approving the budget, the village announced that water and sewer rates would need to increase in order to meet the rising costs of producing, delivering and treating water, as well as maintaining and replacing water and sewer infrastructure.
The new rates will begin Jan. 1, which the village said would cost the average residential customer about $25 annually. That figure is based on bi-monthly usage of 11,000 gallons and a ⅝-inch water service meter. This includes a water use rate of $8.18 per 1,000 gallons of water, a 90 cent wastewater maintenance fee and a customer service charge that varies according to the size of the meter.
The village said the annual road program will now average $1.6 million in expenditures, adding that a comprehensive update of the street program is planned for 2016. The goal of the update is to ensure streets with the highest need are addressed according to priority.
Rewarding report
For the 10th consecutive year, the village of Woodridge earned the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report.
The report consists of information related to the village’s financial position, and is generated in response to local ordinances and state statutes.
The CAFR is judged by an impartial review panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate individuals to read the report.
“Government transparency is a long-standing priority for Woodridge,” Woodridge Mayor Gina Cunningham said. “I congratulate our village staff for their hard work in earning this award, and their daily commitment to professionally run local government.”
The village said the Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.