Weston trustees set public hearing notice with optional $400,000 levy; agree to pursue April referendum on fire staffing

The Village of Weston Board of Trustees voted Nov. 3 to publish the 2026 budget public hearing notice showing an option to levy an additional $400,000 to reduce an immediate advertised mill‑rate decrease and smooth a likely rebound next year. Trustees also instructed staff to prepare a resolution for a spring referendum limited to fire department staffing needs.

Trustee Cronin moved that the public notice include a $400,000 levy option that would reduce the advertised 55¢ mill‑rate decrease to about 29¢; he said the extra levy would level taxes over two years rather than delivering a large decrease followed by a sharp rise. The motion to include the $400,000 option in the public hearing notice carried on a voice vote. Finance staff told the board the preliminary budget shows a $50,000 use of general fund balance and a requested levy of $9.5 million, and that reductions in TIF increment reduced the village’s portion of some tax burdens, producing the one‑time drop in the mill rate.

In a separate conversation about long‑term funding for emergency services, trustees debated a statutory fire fee and whether to take the question to voters. After discussion the board voted to table active pursuit of a local fire fee indefinitely and to authorize staff to draft a resolution for an April referendum asking residents to approve funding specifically for the fire department (staffing/operations). Proponents said a targeted referendum would let voters decide whether to fund known shortfalls in fire staffing; opponents urged care in designing the question and timing.

What happens next: staff will publish the public hearing notice with the $400,000 levy option and prepare the draft referendum resolution and levy impact information for the board to review before adopting the final referendum question.