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Palos Park mayor touts fiscal health, infrastructure upgrades in 2025 State of the Village address
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Summary
At the May 12 State of the Village address, Palos Park leaders highlighted a balanced proposed FY2026 budget, completed paving and water-main projects, rising building-permit activity, and recreation and police initiatives.
Mayor delivered the 2025 State of the Village address to residents on May 12, outlining fiscal results, infrastructure projects, and community initiatives for Palos Park.
The mayor said the village earned the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the fifth consecutive year and that auditors issued an unmodified opinion on the annual financial report. The address cited a proposed villagewide spending plan for fiscal year 2026 of $13,200,000, with operating costs of $9,200,000. "For every dollar you pay in property taxes, only about 7¢ go to the village of Palos Park," the mayor said, noting the remainder goes to schools, Cook County and other taxing bodies.
Why it matters: the address packaged routine performance metrics and upcoming work into a single public update, giving residents a snapshot of the village's budget posture, capital program and staffing levels.
The mayor and staff reported department-level details: the administration office operates with three full-time and three part-time employees and processed 85 Freedom of Information Act requests and documentation for 37 public meetings last year. Finance staffing was described as a one full-time and one part-time position with Allison Brethman identified as finance director and village treasurer. Public Works was reported to include 11 full-time employees, one part-time and two seasonal staff; the department manages roughly 56 miles of streets and 52 miles of water pipe, 37 miles of sewer pipe and 14 lift stations.
Public Works highlights included completion of the village's three-year paving program (resurfacing more than six miles this year and more than 20 miles since 2019) and completion of a west transmission water main extension to the Cog Hill boundary. The mayor described Palos Park's membership in the Oak Lawn Regional Water System (RWS) and noted ongoing regional upgrades intended to increase capacity and reliability.
Community development activity increased, the address said: building permit issuances rose nearly 90 percent from 2023 with 496 permits issued in 2024; staff reported three new businesses and two new homes built last year. The village is updating its International Building Code and continuing work on a development code update; staff announced a joint Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals meeting for May 15 to continue the code review.
Public safety and recreation: the mayor and staff said the police department answered more than 50,000 calls for service over the past year and participates in regional task-force work; in a separate police activity report later in the meeting staff reported 1,921 calls for service for the April 28–May 11 reporting period. The Recreation and Parks Department reported more than 20 special events last year, new pickleball courts and plans for a new outdoor fitness area supported by secured grant funding.
The address closed with brief notices about upcoming meetings and community events and thanked staff, volunteers and residents. The council then moved to take routine business items on the consent agenda.
