Lisle presents FY 2025-26 budget; board approves limited property tax abatement

Deputy Village Manager and Chief Financial Officer Sarah Mitchell on March 17 presented the Village of Lisle’s proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget, saying the fiscal year begins May 1 and concludes April 30 and that the budget was developed starting in October with final approval scheduled for April 7.

The presentation outlined revenue and expenditure changes driven by updated sales-tax projections and board directions taken at February 17 and March 3 meetings. Mitchell said the proposed budget includes a $1,000,000 transfer from the general fund to the police pension fund and a $600,000 transfer to the capital improvement fund to pay for police facility carpet replacement and firing-range improvements. She told the board the proposed budget “accounts for total revenues of $51,741,045 and total expenditures of $58,226,095,” and later noted an updated sales-tax projection that raised a current-year estimate discussed in the presentation.

Why it matters: trustees and members of the public framed the budget against a backdrop of concentrated sales-tax revenue, a long-term target to fully fund the police pension, and an active capital program. Mitchell’s slides showed $13,722,739 in capital projects — an increase of about $6.9 million from last year — including Burlington Avenue reconstruction ($4.3 million), floodplain property acquisition and demolition ($2.0 million), water main improvements and other projects.

Public comment focused on the sales-tax forecast. One resident asked for three specific figures: the original FY 2024-25 budgeted sales tax, the revised projection, and cumulative receipts through December. Mitchell replied the fiscal-year 2024-25 budgeted amount was about $6.5 million, that staff had previously projected $7.5 million, and that they had revised the projection to $8.3 million; she said cumulative receipts through December were about $6.2 million. Several trustees and members of the public expressed concern about the concentration of sales tax among a few businesses and specifically asked whether the Tesla dealership’s lease — reportedly maturing in November — posed a risk to projections; staff said they had not received notice of a renewal or termination.

Trustees debated whether to approve an ordinance abating up to $1,500,000 of the 2024 tax levy (an abatement would reduce the levy collected and shift the cost to the village’s general fund balance). Trustee Mullin proposed instead abating only the corporate-fund portion (approximately $485,727) to preserve reserve levels projected in the village’s five-year forecast. Trustee Olson pressed for using surplus dollars to shore up the police pension fund, noting the village has increased pension funding this year and that future sworn hires will add ongoing pension costs. The mayor and Trustee Greco argued for a larger abatement (up to $1.5 million) to return funds to property taxpayers now.

After discussion the board amended the ordinance and approved a tax abatement limited to the corporate portion of the levy in the amount stated on the record ($485,727). The roll call on the amended motion recorded Trustee Mullin Aye; Trustee Sima Aye; Trustee Greco Aye; Trustee Lesniak Aye; Trustee Olson No. The mayor did not cast a deciding vote on the amendment as presented, and the board declared the amended motion passed.

The budget presentation also included several personnel and operating changes: an increase of about $642,092 for salaries and benefits tied to four full-time positions; $50,000 allocated for hiring a social worker with associated grant reimbursement; $350,000 for police facility carpet replacement and $250,000 for firing-range improvements; $64,500 to lease three police vehicles; $7,200 for deep cleaning of village facilities; and $1,200 for computer equipment for the social worker. Mitchell said the proposed budget was prepared without any new revenue sources and includes a flat property-tax levy for the eighth consecutive year.

Board action: the public hearing on the proposed FY 2025-26 budget was opened and then closed by roll call; the board later approved the amended abatement ordinance that reduces the corporate portion of the 2024 levy by $485,727. Staff said the county clerk will be notified and that the abatement will be reflected in the levy documentation.

Looking ahead: the budget is scheduled for final approval at the board’s April 7 meeting; staff and several trustees said they will continue to monitor sales-tax receipts and communicate with state and local economic partners about major taxpayers whose leases or operations could affect projections.