Dolton finance report shows multimillion-dollar shortfall; bridge loan used to cover delayed property-tax receipts

Village finance staff reviewed the fiscal position for the period ending (as read in the transcript) “11/31/2025” and reported several revenue changes, a delayed property tax installment and an interim bridge loan to cover cashflow needs.

Unidentified Speaker 1 said state revenues rose by $185,000, income tax receipts were up $111,000 and home-rule sales tax increased by $130,000, while a sales tax shortfall of $84,000 and decreased fines and forfeitures (down $606,000) contributed to an overall revenue gap. The speaker attributed an overall drop in tax revenue of about $2,200,000 to a delayed second installment of property tax and said staff applied for a tax-anticipated bridge loan in September/October to cover operations until tax dollars arrive.

The transcript contains multiple numeric reads during the deficit explanation, and the speaker clarified the general fund deficit as $4,807,440.01. The presenter also cited a prior-year one-time TIF administration reimbursement of $1,976,382.31 that inflated the prior-year baseline. Staff emphasized they are not withholding approved payments and are negotiating partial payments with creditors to preserve business continuity.

Why it matters: the shortfall affects the village’s general fund and could require budget adjustments, additional borrowing costs and prolonged negotiations with creditors. The transcript attributes much of the shortfall to a delayed property-tax installment and to legacy deficits from a previous administration; no formal vote or new budget ordinance appears in the provided text.