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Weston board advances 2025 budget framework, reviews TIFs and utility funds
Summary
The Weston village board reviewed the 2025 draft budget — covering the general fund, special revenue funds, two TIF districts and utility funds — and received staff briefings on projected health insurance increases and utility rate needs as it finalizes revenue and spending choices.
The Weston village board on Sept. 20 reviewed its draft 2025 budget, with staff outlining changes across the general fund, special revenue funds and several utility accounts and warning of rising insurance and fuel costs.
Staff presenter (Speaker 3) opened the PowerPoint budget walkthrough by saying decisions made in the budget affect residents’ daily lives, and highlighted a draft assumption of an 11% increase in health insurance and a 3% across‑the‑board wage increase. "So the main thing that we're gonna look at again is just a quick look at the general fund," Speaker 3 said while walking trustees through department changes and reallocations.
On special revenue funds, the board was told the refuse/recycling fund carried a 2023 balance of about $168,000 and that staff recommended trimming the balance rather than raising fees this year. Speaker 3 explained fees cover curbside pickups, bulk‑drop services and seasonal leaf collections.
The presentation also covered tax increment financing (TIF) districts. Staff said the TIF/TID fund is showing transfers, including an $8,000,000 transfer for Weston Avenue, and that closing the CDA TIF would require accumulating roughly $11,000,000 to pay off debt; if closed, staff estimated roughly $400,000 could be released to the general levy but warned the amount was a ballpark estimate.
On utilities, staff described three separate funds — water, stormwater and sewer — and reiterated that project capital costs are recorded in asset accounts rather than operating statements. Stormwater was identified as historically underfunded but improving after recent rate increases; staff estimated a 2024 net income for stormwater of about $334,000, which could be used for engineering and construction to reduce borrowing.
Board members asked for additional detail on several items — including the timing for TIF closeouts, the assumptions behind utility rate projections, and whether current fund balances are sufficient for planned projects — and directed staff to return with more refined figures as the board finalizes its October schedule for budget adoption.
The board did not adopt a final budget at the meeting; staff was authorized to continue preparing the budget for formal consideration at upcoming meetings.
