Orland Park board adopts FY2026 budget, approves annexations, eminent domain steps and multiple contracts

ORLAND PARK, Ill. — The Orland Park Village Board on Monday adopted its fiscal year 2026 budget and took a series of land-use and contract actions aimed at stabilizing troubled properties and cutting costs, Mayor Jim Dodge said.

"In 2025 alone, the Village spent $1,830,000 for Centennial Park West concert venue. At that rate, the total 20 year cost would be about $37,000,000," Mayor Jim Dodge said, announcing a proposed change in how the village manages the concert series. He said the proposed FY2026 budget sharply reduces those concert expenses and directs staff to develop a community-informed plan next year for the venue's long-term future.

The board also completed procedural and policy steps on multiple items: it approved the annexation of properties along Wolf Road from 171st to 175th Street after hearing resident concerns and instructed staff to work with those residents on mutually beneficial solutions. The board voted to move forward with eminent domain to acquire several blighted parcels near 94th Avenue and 159th Street, including a BP station Mayor Dodge said has been vacant since March 2020 and is contributing to what he described as an "accident-prone" intersection area.

Officials approved a construction contract to stabilize the Tinley Creek stream bank after engineering staff secured a $3,700,000 grant, Mayor Dodge said. He described Tinley Creek as part of the village's stormwater system that has been eroding for years and noted the village does not own the creekbed but is working with homeowners and grant funds to advance the project.

On finance, Mayor Dodge said the Village held a public hearing (the tentative budget was published Nov. 17) and after the hearings the board passed ordinances for the tax levy and adopted the FY2026 budget. "This budget meets our key objectives such as ending '26 with a 42% available fund balance," he said, and it includes no new taxes.

Mayor Dodge said the adopted budget adds eight new sworn police officers, the department's first major staffing increase in about 20 years, and remains committed to public safety while seeking operational efficiencies. He outlined several cost-saving measures the board approved, including switching health insurance carriers to save roughly $7,000,000 over five years, a $340,000 reduction in property/casualty insurance costs, and an $800,000 saving tied to re-engineering an intersection for a roundabout at 153rd and Ravinia Avenue.

The board approved a redevelopment agreement to allow Dick's House of Sports to occupy a long-vacant Sears site at Orland Square Mall, including façade, parking and stormwater improvements and the creation of a TIF district to support the project. The village also approved an intergovernmental agreement allowing Tinley Park police to use Orland Park's new training facility, range and simulator.

Additionally, the board passed a resolution supporting the America 250 commemoration and approved and released a settlement agreement in William Sanchez v. Orland Park, which the mayor said closes that matter.

Mayor Dodge highlighted the board's broader fiscal work, saying the village renegotiated previously approved debt commitments after identifying a potential exposure of about $271,000,000 and is working to keep the village from reaching that level of indebtedness.

The meeting included recognitions: Ballet 5 a was honored as Business of the Month and CTF Illinois was named Community Organization of the Month for December.

The board did not publicly provide vote tallies or identify motion proposers and seconders for the actions summarized by the mayor.

The Village Board is expected to continue working with staff and residents on implementation and community engagement steps for the projects and annexations described by Mayor Dodge.