Glendale Heights board approves $79.4 million FY 2025-26 budget, OKs nonunion pay plan

The Village of Glendale Heights Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved the fiscal year 2025–26 budget and a nonunion pay plan after a detailed presentation by village staff on revenue estimates, proposed tax rate changes and capital projects.

Bill Polling, a village staff member who presented the budget, said total revenues across all funds are estimated at $82.5 million and total expenses at $79.4 million for FY 2025–26. Polling said the village projects a general fund balance of $22.7 million at the close of FY 2024–25 and is proposing to use $1.2 million of that balance to pledge toward the Simons Park project.

The board heard that the tentative DuPage County levy rate declined to 0.83 per $100 of equalized assessed value from 0.89, a 5.5% decrease. Staff proposed several tax changes to offset revenue shortfalls and to fund operations: a 0.25 percentage-point increase in the home-rule sales tax to take effect Oct. 1, 2025, estimated to generate roughly $500,000 for the final six months of FY 2025–26; a 0.5 percentage-point increase to the food-and-beverage tax effective June 1, 2025, estimated to raise about $350,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year; and a potential 1% local grocery tax if the state elimination of the grocery tax, effective Jan. 1, 2026, produces the projected $300,000–$400,000 revenue loss.

Polling summarized major revenue sources and fund specifics: property and other taxes account for the majority of general fund revenue, sales taxes (including home-rule sales tax) are a leading revenue source, and tax revenues are responsible for about 82% of the general fund. He said sales tax stability reflects a mix of local businesses and noted the village currently collects sales, home-rule and cannabis taxes from a single adult-use cannabis business.

On the expense side, personnel costs are the largest general fund category. The presentation listed staffing counts by division and called out collective-bargaining contracts that affect wages, including FOP patrol and sergeants, Teamster public works, and building and maintenance contracts; AFSCME bargaining had recently started. The board was told Blue Cross Blue Shield health premiums would rise about 5% and the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund rate for calendar 2025 is 7.53%.

Capital and infrastructure items in the budget include a $4.55 million road program (aiming for a 15-year resurfacing cycle), sidewalk repair funded in part by a $300,000 DCEO grant, an Armitage Creek stormwater project partially funded by federal and county grants, and several water and sewer projects including a water main replacement partially financed with a CDBG grant and the recently completed $12.3 million phosphorus upgrade at the wastewater plant. Polling said the village expects to combine several funds and reduce the number of accounting funds when a new financial system launches May 1.

The DuPage Water Commission announced a tentative 4% increase in water costs effective May 1; Polling said about $4.7 million of the village’s $5.4 million water operating cost is for purchased water. Police pension fund information in the presentation showed the fund at about 64% funded per the most recent actuarial valuation; investments were moved to the Illinois Police Officers Pension Investment Fund (IPOPCA) in 2022 as required by state law.

Trustee Bill Smith moved to approve "the 2025–26 village budget as presented." Trustee Light seconded. Roll-call votes recorded in the minutes show Trustee Schmidt, Trustee Sadiki, Trustee Light, Trustee Muratov, and Trustee Pojack voting yes; the motion was declared approved.

The board then approved the FY 2025–26 nonunion pay plan. The motion to adopt the pay plan was moved and seconded; roll-call votes recorded show Trustee Zayake, Trustee Light, Trustee Muratov, Trustee Pojack, and Trustee Schmidt voting yes; the chair declared the motion approved.

There were no members of the public who addressed the board on the agenda items during the meeting. The meeting closed with brief remarks of thanks to staff and recognition that the presenter will leave after the next meeting.

Votes at a glance: - Adopt FY 2025–26 budget as presented: Motion by Trustee Bill Smith; seconded by Trustee Light; outcome: approved. Recorded yes votes in transcript excerpts: Trustee Schmidt; Trustee Sadiki; Trustee Light; Trustee Muratov; Trustee Pojack. - Approve FY 2025–26 nonunion pay plan: Mover recorded as “Pat” (transcript shorthand); second recorded; outcome: approved. Recorded yes votes in transcript excerpts: Trustee Zayake; Trustee Light; Trustee Muratov; Trustee Pojack; Trustee Schmidt.

The village manager and finance staff said a public hearing will precede the board’s April 17 meeting and that the annual appropriation ordinance will be placed on that agenda with a request to waive first reading before filing the ordinance with DuPage County as required by law.