Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Beecher board adopts $2025–26 budget, holds levy steady at 0%
Summary
The Village of Beecher adopted its fiscal year 2025–26 budget and appropriation ordinance after a public hearing. Key adjustments include higher anticipated casino revenue, reinstated youth commission funding, insurance and pension contribution increases, and a $500,000 grant with a 2026 expenditure timeline.
The Village of Beecher board adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 budget and accompanying appropriation ordinance after opening and closing a public hearing during its April 28 meeting.
Trustees approved Resolution 2025-03 adopting the budget and Ordinance 14-21 appropriating funds for fiscal 2025–26 by roll call vote; the board recorded unanimous support.
The finance committee highlighted a number of adjustments in the final budget. Trustee Krauss, chair of the Finance and Administration Committee, said the village increased its estimate of monthly casino-related revenue by roughly $9,000 compared with the prior projection and that the village maintained a 0% property tax levy adopted in December.
Krauss also detailed operating cost pressures: health insurance premiums were increased in the draft—"PPO insurance increased 8.5 percent; HMO by 6.2 percent," he said—and the village’s Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund contribution rate was adjusted slightly from 3.31 to 3.44. He noted collective‑bargaining negotiations with public works and clerical unions are still underway and that final salary numbers will be updated after contracts are settled.
The budget includes a $500,000 grant the village expects to spend under an external deadline. Staff described plans to advertise that project for bids in January–February 2026 and to schedule construction in summer 2026 in coordination with the school calendar.
Trustees also reinstated a $4,000 contribution for the Youth Commission after review of the commission’s reserves and recent donations. Trustee Krauss said the commission held about $9,900 on hand after prior years’ expenditures and outside donations, and that the village and commission will discuss future fundraising and program planning.
Board members asked about where a detailed line-item budget would be posted; staff said the full line-by-line budget is available online. No changes to the adopted tax levy were made during the meeting.
The board’s actions authorize staff to implement the adopted spending plan, with further adjustments to be made as union contracts are finalized and as grant schedules are confirmed.
