Hampshire board previews tentative 2025–26 budget, sets April 17 public hearing

Laurie Lyons, presenting the village’s tentative fiscal year 2025–26 budget, told trustees the tentative document will be placed on the counter and posted online to meet the statutory public-inspection period and that a formal public hearing is required before final adoption. "Tonight's objective is just to present an overview of the budget structure and the process," Lyons said.

Lyons outlined proposed capital initiatives including two new squad cars, a bucket truck, a forklift and stormwater remediation work, and said the budget reflects investments to protect water and wastewater treatment facilities. She said the village received tax extensions from Kane and McHenry counties and updated revenue estimates accordingly, and that the 1% sales tax enacted Jan. 1, 2025 is included for the full fiscal year.

For revenues, Lyons stated the presentation slide figure of $8,950,364 in budgeted general fund revenues. On expenditures, the slide presented an expenditure figure that Lyons read aloud during the presentation; she also flagged a formula error that currently shows a small surplus in the draft and said she will correct it before the tentative budget is posted. "There is a formula error on the tentative budget, which I determined after it was sent out," Lyons said, and she committed to revising the numbers prior to publication.

Lyons explained proposed utility- and service-fee changes: a proposed non-senior garbage rate increase of $1.30 (bimonthly) and a senior rate increase from $28.85 to $29.86; she said the typical residential water bill (based on 11,000 gallons bimonthly use) would rise about $4.32 per month or about $53.04 per year under the current proposal. Lyons also said staff implemented a motor-fuel tax transfer to support interest payments on interim financing for a public works facility.

Trustees did not object to holding the required public hearing at the board’s next regular meeting; the board set the public hearing for April 17, 2025, at 7 p.m. and approved the date by motion. Lyons said she will bring detailed changes and a corrected budget prior to that hearing.

The board is expected to consider final adoption following the public hearing and any public comment. The tentative budget will be available for public inspection after staff posts the corrected document.