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Villa Park trustees ask staff to find $2 million in 2026 budget cuts amid $13M shortfall
Summary
Facing an estimated $13 million multi‑fund deficit, the Villa Park Board voted to direct the village manager, finance director and department heads to identify $2 million in cuts and provide monthly progress updates while staff continues audits and longer-range budgeting work.
The Village of Villa Park on March 23 directed staff to search for $2 million in reductions to the village’s 2026 budget as trustees grappled with a roughly $13 million shortfall across funds.
Trustee O’Fano moved—and the board approved after amendment—that the village manager, finance director and department heads revisit the amended 2026 budget, make necessary revisions to reduce the deficit by $2,000,000, and provide monthly updates to the board on progress.
Finance Director Mica told trustees the village budget includes about $5.1 million in general-fund deficit items and additional deficit spending in several TIF accounts. She said the village currently has roughly $20 million in reserves and described how an earlier $10 million IDNR grant and future TIF receipts factor into the forecast. Mica also explained the village’s new ERP system is being reconciled and auditors are conducting field work, which has slowed some deliverables.
Trustees raised concerns about which funds should be adjusted. Several said they wanted staff to identify cuts across all funds rather than prescribe specific line-item reductions from the dais. Trustee Constatos and others emphasized that staff—not elected trustees—should propose where to cut, while Trustee O’Fano and Trustee Alfano pressed for clear targets and for staff to return with options.
Trustees also discussed the timing of any hiring tied to budget approval. The board limited one budget amendment vote to a $195,407 line item to account for two additional police positions the police chief said were needed to maintain staffing levels.
Manager Rivas and Director Mica said staff would begin weekly, department-head review sessions focused on the directive and would provide a monthly update to the board. Mica cautioned that the ongoing audits and ERP reconciliation mean some elements of the longer-range budget work will take weeks to complete.
The board’s vote on the budget‑review directive passed after amending the 30‑day update requirement to a monthly report so staff could accommodate concurrent audits.
