The Village of Park Forest will hold a regular meeting on Monday, April 21, at Village Hall.
The agenda includes eight items: six motions and two resolutions. One motion is to approve the minutes from the March meetings. Other motions will address several contracts related to the Asphalt and Concrete Patching Programs and contracts for water treatment chemicals.
Additionally, a motion to approve an engineering services agreement to reconstruct Forest and Norwood Boulevards from Indianwood Boulevard to Westwood Drive is required. The final motion pertains to the renewal of a landscape maintenance contract.
The two resolutions pertain to authorizing the disposal of personal property owned by the Village and adopting fiscal policies for the fiscal year 2025/2026 budget.
In a memo sent to the Board, Finance Director Mark Pries explained that one of the fundamental requirements of the Distinguished Budget Award program is that the budget must include fiscal policies. He emphasized the importance of the Board adopting this resolution.
Pries stated that these policies guide management in preparing their budgets and are based partly on the tax levy adopted the previous December, along with its underlying assumptions. He also considered economic conditions that have influenced revenues and expenditures since the tax levy was adopted.
In his memo, Pries outlined the following items for the Board's consideration for adoption via resolution:
- A 2 percent increase in departmental expenditures.
- A 3.5 percent salary increase for all personnel, in line with negotiated union contracts.
- A 5 percent increase in water rates, raising the cost from $20.91 per 1,000 gallons in FY 24/25 to $21.95 per 1,000 gallons in FY 25/26, per the revised rate ordinance adopted in Dec. 2021.
- A 5 percent increase in sewer rates, increasing the charge from $3.82 per 1,000 gallons in FY 24/25 to $4.02 per 1,000 gallons in FY 25/26, based on the revised rate ordinance adopted in December 2021.
- Refuse rates will remain at $27.65 for all of calendar year 2025 and will increase to $28.57 on Jan. 1, 2026. Calendar 2022 marked the first year of the renewed contract, which extends until the end of calendar year 2033.
Click here to read the complete agenda. The Regular Meeting will be held on Monday, April 21, at 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive.