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Oak Park board backs finance‑department reorganization and asks staff to prepare budget amendment
Summary
Trustees approved an updated finance department organizational chart and directed staff to prepare a budget amendment for a reorganization that would add a deputy CFO and a comptroller role, centralize grants administration and support a planned cloud financial system. Officials estimated a fiscal impact of roughly $1.315 million over time and an approximate recurring salary increase in the department.
The Village Board voted on Feb. 17 to approve an updated organizational chart for the finance department and directed staff to prepare the budget amendment needed to implement the changes.
Village Manager Jackson introduced Chief Financial Officer Kevin Braco to explain the proposal. Braco said the reorganization is a response to recent audit findings and internal capacity gaps that have left the village behind on monthly closes and other financial deadlines. The changes would create a deputy CFO responsible for budgeting and financial planning and a new comptroller position to lead accounting functions; the plan also centralizes grant administration and aims to strengthen monthly closing, forecasting and internal controls.
Why it matters: Village officials said the changes are intended to reduce the risk of repeat audit findings, speed monthly closings and give the village capacity to implement modern financial reporting and dashboards tied to a proposed cloud finance platform.
Budget impact and timing: Braco presented an estimated personnel and implementation cost picture. He described an increase in finance‑department salary expense of roughly $83,000 (noting that a portion of that — reported in the packet as moving from the health department — reflects existing salaries being transferred into finance). He said the “true cost” of the reorganization was roughly $1.315 million (give or take), a figure that included phased hiring, overlap for knowledge transfer and related implementation expenses. Trustees pressed on timetable and transition plans; staff said the deputy CFO retirement and contract exit will shape a phased hiring and cross‑training schedule in 2026 and 2027.
Board response and direction: Trustees expressed support for a move toward strategic budgeting and improved controls while pressing staff to surface any additional risks or resource needs during implementation. The board approved the organizational chart and instructed staff to prepare the necessary budget amendment; trustees asked for follow‑up information during hiring and implementation to ensure cost controls and clarity on which salary costs are transfers versus new expenditures.
Next steps: Staff will prepare the formal budget amendment for consideration and begin the posting/hiring process for new positions if the board confirms funding through the amendment.
