Hampshire presents tentative FY26.2 budget; special hearing scheduled amid quorum concerns

Finance Director Lori Lyons presented the village's tentative FY26.2 budget, outlining assumptions (historical revenue trends and state shared receipts), priorities (infrastructure, lead service‑line replacements, park/stormwater projects), staffing additions (two public‑works hires plus one in utilities) and capital needs including $500,000 added for a well‑13 rehabilitation.

Lyons told trustees a special census had increased the village population to 9,425, an uptick of 1,758 since 2020. She said Illinois Municipal League estimates imply more than $400,000 in additional state‑shared revenue and that the change will yield roughly $325,000 in additional annual general‑fund revenue across several tax categories. "The end of the count resulted in, 9,425 residents. That's an increase of 1,758 since our 2020 census," Lyons said, adding the revenue estimates are based on Illinois Municipal League calculations.

Budget committee members described tradeoffs: not all capital requests could be funded, and the committee recommended funding $19,000 for a local festival instead of a $25,000 request; trustees noted substantial in‑kind costs the village provides to events (police presence, trash receptacles, staff time) and cautioned the hotel‑motel tax fund may not sustain current support levels over time.

Because several trustees would be unavailable for an April 2 meeting (spring break concerns), the board agreed to a special meeting on April 9 for the public budget hearing and to meet again April 16 to continue business and consider final action. A motion to set the public hearing date(s) was moved and later recorded as passing.