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Palos Park council adopts $14.2 million FY2027 budget and appoints Janine M. Smith as village manager
Summary
The Palos Park Village Council approved a $14,208,288 fiscal year 2027 budget and voted to appoint Janine M. Smith as village manager effective May 4, 2026. The finance director projected a $46,211 general-fund surplus and outlined capital items funded by the plan.
The Palos Park Village Council on April 27 approved an annual budget of $14,208,288 for fiscal year 2027 and voted to appoint Janine M. Smith as the village’s next manager, both actions the council carried by roll call.
During a public hearing on the budget, the finance director presented the plan as three parts: the Palos Park Public Library budget of $675,250, the Palos Park Police Pension Fund at $436,530, and a village-only portion of $13,096,508. The director said the general fund is balanced and projected an end-of-year surplus of $46,211. He also reported that revenue bonds issued in 2006 to purchase land for Centennial Park were paid off in December 2025, freeing roughly $45,000 per year for other uses.
“The village’s 2027 grand total budget is $14,208,288,” the finance director said, adding that revenues are stable, expenditures are managed, and reserves remain healthy. The presentation listed several capital items included in the budget or dependent on grant funding: one police vehicle and body-worn cameras for the police department; a public-works dump truck and snowplow; replacement of a force main in the sewer fund; and a booster-station generator and pump-control upgrades in the water fund.
Council members moved to adopt ordinance 2026-07, the formal budget-adoption ordinance, and the clerk conducted a roll call. The motion carried and the council adopted the budget to take effect May 1, 2026.
Separately, the council moved to appoint Janine M. Smith as village manager with an initial employment agreement running from May 4, 2026, through May 11, 2027. The appointment motion was seconded, carried by roll call, and the chair welcomed Smith to the role.
The meeting also included routine business on the consent agenda: payment of invoices totaling $138,303.81, and a public-works request to waive formal bidding to purchase a 2026 police utility vehicle for $46,809 pending the new budget. Council discussion of the budget noted that utilities and refuse funds account for roughly $5.7 million of the total and that library funds are separate from village operating revenues.
Outgoing village manager Rick Bain announced his resignation effective May 31, 2026, citing health and family reasons, and offered closing remarks of gratitude for his years of service. Council members thanked Bain and acknowledged his tenure.
The council also heard from Commissioner Wade, who presented an ordinance to update the village’s planning and zoning code and approve an updated official zoning map intended to implement goals of the comprehensive plan, including sustainable development and updated subdivision standards. Staff recommended adoption and a motion was made on that ordinance during the meeting.
Resident Mary Anne Hanson used the public-comment period to urge the council to engage state representatives on a suite of bills the mayor said could curtail local zoning authority, and she recommended pursuing counterproposals at the state level. The chair encouraged residents to contact their legislators about the bills.
The council adjourned after hearing no further public comment and reminded attendees of an Arbor Day program on May 3 and a state-of-the-village address scheduled for May 13.
