Oak Park council adopts three‑year budget, approves court MOU and amends budget to reflect subsidy

Oak Park’s City Council on May 18 adopted a three‑year budget for fiscal year 2026–27, set millage rates for the coming year and approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the 45th District Court that council later folded into the adopted budget through a follow-on amendment.

City Manager Eric Tungate delivered the budget presentation, calling the package a three‑year plan that models the city’s fiscal trajectory through 2028 and 2029. Tungate said Oak Park’s total taxable value is now roughly $803,000,000 and proposed a 6% combined water and sewer rate increase, no solid‑waste fee increase, and continued capital investment in parks and a new community center. He told council, “I’m asking you to approve the budget and the projected budgets,” and recommended adoption of the millage and the 2026–27 fee schedule.

The public hearing that preceded the vote included remarks from Jamie Powell Horwitz, who identified herself as chief judge of the 45th District Court, urging adoption of the MOU to address court staffing and building needs and describing a $50,000 grant for specialty court programs. Horwitz said the MOU is meant to “address our staffing needs, as well as beginning to address our aging infrastructure.”

Council first voted to adopt the budget and millage on roll call; the motion carried unanimously. Council then voted to adopt the 2026–27 fee schedule (which includes new Event Hub fees) and separately approved the MOU with the district court. Because adopting the MOU requires budget adjustments, council subsequently moved to amend the newly adopted FY2026–27 budget to incorporate the MOU changes; that motion also passed on roll call.

Finance director Saundra Crawford and city staff told the council the city has maintained about a 17.3% general fund balance and that the additional court subsidy will reduce that percentage modestly (Tungate said it will drop to about 16.7%). Tungate noted that, while the fund balance has improved since the 2012 deficit era, it remains below the roughly 25% commonly recommended for communities of Oak Park’s size and that a lower credit rating increases borrowing costs for the city.

What’s next: the budget takes effect July 1 and staff will implement the changes, including the court subsidy reflected by the MOU and the fee schedule adjustments. Council also approved a separate motion to publish and open the application process to fill the council vacancy caused by a recent resignation; council expects interviews and a possible appointment in June.