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Resident flags apparent budget double‑counting and recommends clearer financial reporting before April 14 vote
Summary
At the village board budget hearing, resident Al Foreman raised questions about audit review, year‑to‑date financials and apparent duplication across funds that he says overstates the FY 2025–26 combined budget; he recalculated a $637,000 deficit after eliminations and urged staff to reconcile figures before the board’s April 14 adoption.
At the public hearing on the Village of La Grange’s proposed FY 2025–26 operating and capital budget, resident Al Foreman urged the board to ensure its combined budget presentation does not double‑count amounts that appear in multiple funds.
Foreman asked whether the budget is subject to an audit and whether year‑to‑date actuals were available for review. He said the draft combined village budget projects a $1,445,000 deficit but that adding fund totals without eliminations can overstate revenues and expenditures. "It appears the property tax levy assigned to the police and fire pension funds has been included in the general fund as well," he said, pointing to a property‑tax line showing $13,289,000 in projected property tax revenue while the village tax levy (excluding the library) appears as $9,406,000 on the levy page.
Foreman also highlighted what he described as an overstated debt‑service expense of $794,000 and noted large employer pension contribution amounts included across funds. After attaching five exhibits to his remarks, he said his reconciled total revenue after eliminations would be $38,948,000 and expenditures $39,585,000—yielding a $637,000 deficit—less than the draft number on page 3.
President pro tem Gail thanked Foreman; staff were asked to confirm details. The board will consider final budget adoption during its April 14 meeting.
