Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Homer Glen opens budget hearing with no public comment; board okays Home Depot sign update and ALPR MOU
Loading...
Summary
The board opened and closed a public hearing on the FY 2026–27 budget with no speakers, heard a budget presentation showing a balanced plan and modest surplus, approved a Home Depot PUD sign update and a memorandum of understanding on automated license-plate readers with Will County.
The Village of Homer Glen opened a public hearing on its proposed fiscal year 2026–27 budget and closed it without public testimony. Village staff later presented a workshop overview showing a balanced budget, a projected general-fund surplus and no proposed tax increases.
Village Manager Joe Baber urged residents to submit comments to the Illinois Commerce Commission about a pending Illinois American Water rate increase and merger, and reported the village received a $175,000 grant for road improvements and about $1.4 million in grant awards since 2023.
Finance staff presented highlights of the proposed budget, calling it balanced and noting a roughly $227,000 operating surplus in the general fund and conservative revenue projections. The presenters said they expect a projected FY 2026 surplus of about $1.2 million that the board will likely consider transferring into the capital projects fund. The draft budget identified no new taxes or real-estate tax increases and included a $250,000 contingency reserve and capital investments (street trucks, park building, wastewater plant work and continued Heritage Park improvements).
On separate business, trustees voted to approve a minor PUD amendment for signage at the Home Depot property, describing the change as an upgrade to signage and moving the ordinance forward without substantive objection.
The board also voted to pull from the table and approve a memorandum of understanding with the Will County Sheriff’s Office that memorializes the village’s policy on automated license-plate readers (ALPR). Trustees discussed subscription and billing issues and confirmed that billing for provider services would be prorated by camera activation; the MOU was finalized with the village attorney and the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office and then approved by roll call.
Other consent and legislative items included the approval of a wellness initiative funded by an insurance incentive ($8,000), several code text amendments (some tabled), and rescission of a standard operating procedure related to annual performance review cycles. The board gave consensus to allow a registered shredding-event vendor to participate despite a shortfall in one excess-insurance category, judging the risk acceptable.
The board moved into a workshop for more detailed budget discussion and later heard an update on Long Run Creek watershed planning (the board asked staff to pursue an update to the 2014 watershed plan and to seek grant funding). The meeting closed its public business by moving into executive session on personnel, litigation, utilities and real estate matters.
