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Willow Springs board adopts 2026 budget, keeps levy flat and overfunds police pension
Summary
The Village of Willow Springs board approved the 2026 budget, a flat property tax levy for the third consecutive year, and annual appropriations — and will contribute $1,350,000 to the police pension fund versus an actuary-recommended ~$950,000, while maintaining an overall surplus.
The Village of Willow Springs board on Dec. 11 adopted the village's 2026 annual budget, approved the levy assessment ordinance and passed the annual appropriations ordinance after brief discussion and roll-call votes.
The finance presenter told the board the final budget contained no significant changes from the draft; adjustments reflected planned handling of TIF 2 (tax increment financing) revenue and related transfers, including payments to School District 108, the village and a developer. The presenter said staffing levels for public works and the police department remain unchanged for 2026 and that the village has fully funded its capital plan.
The presenter said the village will "overfund" the police pension payment for 2026, contributing $1,350,000 to a fund for which an actuary had requested approximately $950,000. "We are putting 1,350,000 into that fund this year," the finance presenter said, and added the budget remains balanced to a surplus despite the larger pension contribution.
Board members asked no substantive public questions during the budget hearing and moved to adjourn that portion of the meeting. The board then considered related resolutions and ordinances on the regular agenda, including:
- Resolution 2025-R-17, authorizing salary increases for village employees (passed). A typographical error was noted in an attachment that listed a public works proposed hourly rate as "$221.50"; the presenter said the final document corrects that figure to "$21.50."
- Resolution 2025-R-18, closing various village budget funds and transferring assets to other existing funds (passed with no substantive discussion).
- Ordinance 2025-O-18, the levy assessment and collection of taxes for fiscal year 2026 (passed). The finance presenter emphasized the levy is flat this year — unchanged from the prior year — marking the third consecutive year the requested levy amount is the same.
- Ordinance 2025-O-19, approving annual appropriations for the 2026 fiscal year (passed). During review staff identified a carryover/appropriation conversion issue under public works: a $5,000 budget line became a $5,500 appropriation in the final document; staff said the correction has been made in the final signed document to be posted.
All motions and ordinances on the budget and appropriations passed on roll call with affirmative votes from all members present. The public comment period produced no speakers, and the board adjourned the meeting.
Next steps: the village will post the signed final budget and appropriation ordinances and proceed with the capital and pension funding noted in the budget presentation.
