Broadview trustees adopt 2025–26 budget after brief presentation; 4% union raises included

Mayor Thompson called a public hearing and special meeting Wednesday evening and the board adopted an ordinance approving the village’s tentative budget for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2025, and ending April 30, 2026.

Director Hood gave trustees a short recap of the finance committee’s review and highlighted the budget’s main drivers. "This year's budget is one of the easiest ones I've done in a while because we've had decent increases in our property taxes and sales tax revenue," Hood said, adding that grant revenue will fund programs including a composting program, an energy plan and renewable-energy work. He also noted a tree grant from "Martin Arboritum" to remove and replant trees identified as dead or dying.

The budget includes labor and benefits cost increases: collective-bargaining raises for union employees of 4 percent and eligibility for nonunion staff raises up to 3.4 percent; health-care costs are projected to rise about 3.4 percent and other insurance roughly 1 percent. Hood said the capital program covers several street and infrastructure projects, including rebuilding 21st Avenue, parking-lot improvements with a new lot at Lexington and 17th, state-associated work on Surerac that will require the village to cover some intersection and lighting costs, water-main replacements and a pilot of a water-line lining product tied to the village’s lead service removal and replacement program.

Hood also said the budget adds $25,000 in professional services for an event manager to help run village events and that timing changes moved several completed public-works items into next year’s capital budget because associated grant revenue will be received later.

Mayor Thompson said the tentative budget had been posted for public review after a finance-committee session chaired by Trustee Shelby and that the village had received no public questions or formal comments as of the hearing. When the mayor asked trustees for questions, none were raised. Trustee Shelby moved the ordinance to adopt the budget; Trustee Senior seconded. In a roll-call vote Miss Jones recorded yes votes from Trustee Abraham, Trustee Senior, Trustee Chamali (recorded in the minutes as Chamalave) and Trustee Shelby; Trustees Armor and Miller were absent. Mayor Thompson announced the ordinance passed 4–0.

Thompson thanked department heads for their work and noted the budget supports the village’s youth-employment program for 14- and 15-year-olds this summer. She also announced a swearing-in for elected officials at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 5. The meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m.