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Villa Park board hears FY2026 budget summary and public comments on cannabis-tax allocation and pantry support
Summary
Finance Director Susie Micah presented a draft FY2026 budget showing a FY2025 general-fund positive balance of about $5.5 million and a planned FY2026 general-fund deficit of about $5.4 million to be covered by reserves; public commenters asked about duplicated account numbers, cannabis-tax allocation and village support for local food pantries.
The Village of Villa Park opened and then closed a public hearing on the proposed FY2026 budget during its Nov. 19 special meeting.
Finance Director Susie Micah presented the draft budget and told trustees the general fund is expected to end FY2025 with roughly $5.5 million positive balance, which the village plans to use to cover a projected FY2026 general-fund deficit of about $5.4 million. Micah said most other funds (capital, police, hotel/motel, recreation, pool, debt service, equipment replacement, stormwater, water and wastewater) were drafted to net out with revenue equaling expenditures or to roll positive balances into planned projects. She also flagged a $2.6 million shortfall tied to an earlier administration’s failure to budget the police-pension contribution; staff said transfers will be finalized in coordination with department heads before December and that the draft will be presented again Dec. 8.
During public comment, resident Cheryl Tucker flagged what she said were two different account numbers and amounts for mosquito control and tree trimming line items and asked whether the cannabis-tax 1% intended for a future swimming-pool fund is still allocated under parks. Micah answered that duplicate account numbers reflect prior account-number structures that were consolidated for the 2026 budget and that the amounts for the older account numbers show zero for 2026 because the consolidated account now carries the budgeted funds.
In public comment on non-agenda items, a longtime pantry volunteer and other speakers urged the board to consider the work of the Outreach House food pantry and noted high demand at York Township’s pantry; board members discussed the village’s $10,000 donation to York Township, confirmed the Outreach House address (805 S. Main St., Lombard) and encouraged stronger future partnerships to support residents in need.
The public hearing was opened by motion, and after public comment the board closed it by motion at 7:13 p.m.
