Lake Bluff — The Village of Lake Bluff Board of Trustees on April 14 approved a series of budget adjustments and capital projects, including a contract for a new emergency generator at the Public Safety Building, authorization to contract for Village Hall window replacements, amendments to the biennial budget and a set of smaller infrastructure and operating items.

The actions, taken largely by voice or roll-call votes, move forward projects the village says address public-safety operations, energy efficiency, stormwater and street infrastructure and routine operating expenditures. Finance Director Bettina O'Connell summarized the budget outlook during a public hearing earlier in the meeting, saying the village's operating budget for FY2026 totals $14,680,000 and that the larger change in the proposed biennial budget is a rise in capital spending to about $9.4 million for FY2026.

Among the board's votes:

- Generator replacement: Trustees approved awarding a contract for a new emergency generator (alternate bid 2) at the Public Safety Building. The generator unit with a standard sound enclosure was listed at $156,200; staff recommended budgeting up to 15% for unit costs and contingency (total up to $179,630). Consultants said the new unit is expected to reduce sound roughly 20 decibels compared with the current generator. The vote was taken by roll call with Trustees Cole, Fisher, Freid, Hatch and Reiter recorded as voting in favor.

- Village Hall window replacement: After reviewing five bids and consulting the village's architectural consultant, the board approved rejecting those bids and authorizing a contract with Blue Reef LLC for base bids A, B and C totaling $177,100, plus a 15% contingency (bringing the probable total to about $203,665). Staff said the recommended modern replacement windows will duplicate the historic form in more durable materials and improve energy performance; the project is expected to be completed within the village's $200,000 budget with careful contract management. The resolution passed by roll call.

- Biennial budget actions: The board held and closed the required public hearing on the village's proposed FY2026 biannual budget, then approved first reading of the biannual budget ordinance. The tentative biannual budget shown to the board includes $24,357,016 in village funds plus $3,292,331 in interfund transfers for FY2026 (the packet lists operating costs and capital projects; second-reading and final adoption were scheduled for a later April meeting). O'Connell said the FY2026 plan assumes conservative sales-tax revenue projections, a projected 10% medical cost increase for budgeting, and interfund transfers to support capital work.

- Budget amendment and finance items: Trustees approved an ordinance amending the second year of the biennial budget to add $606,951.92 for rollovers, adjustments and additions (including sanitary sewer improvements, Glen Avenue footbridge replacement, fire radio purchases and squad car purchases). The board also approved the warrants and payroll report showing total expenditures of $1,245,736.93 for the cited period.

- Comprehensive fee schedule and water rate: The board approved an amendment to the comprehensive fee schedule to enact a 5% water-rate increase effective May 1, 2025 as recommended by the finance committee to support water operations and capital needs.

- Glen Avenue bridge landscaping change order: Trustees approved change order No. 1 for the Glen Avenue pedestrian-bridge landscaping contract, adding $10,435 for unanticipated retaining-wall and regrading work and increasing the contract total to $31,684.

- East Sheridan Road asphalt path (IDOT intergovernmental agreement): The board approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation so IDOT can include the village path resurfacing as part of its 2025 resurfacing project; IDOT estimated the path work at roughly $30,000 and will award the contract later in April.

- 300 McLaren Lane restrictive-covenant amendments: The board adopted a staff resolution to amend two restrictive-covenant clauses for 300 McLaren Lane — changing the maximum allowed impervious surface and the total building-and-accessory-structure coverage on the back lot from 12% to 16% to accommodate the applicant's proposed addition and deck. The item had been reviewed by the Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals and by the Committee of the Whole; a roll-call vote recorded all trustees present as voting aye.

Votes were taken using a mixture of roll-call and voice votes depending on the item; several items advanced as first readings and will return for final action in later meetings. Village officials said funds for the larger projects will come from existing sources and interfund transfers rather than from new property-tax levies.

"The extensive report is in our packet and worth a review," O'Connell said during the budget hearing, referencing the detailed budget documents available on the village website and in Village Hall.

Next steps: Several items are subject to second readings or further contract finalization; the board expected to take final action on the budget at a later April meeting and to return to final contract terms for large capital projects once contingency and unit costs are confirmed.