While some neighboring communities have eliminated vehicle stickers, Park Forest officials say the program remains a critical funding source for maintaining local streets.
Each year, the Village generates approximately $290,000 from the sale of vehicle stickers, according to Finance Director Mark Pries. That revenue is dedicated specifically to street maintenance.
“Vehicle sticker revenues directly fund street maintenance work,” Pries said.
The Village budgets about $800,000 annually for street maintenance. Of that amount, roughly $500,000 comes from the Village’s annual property tax levy, with the remaining portion funded through vehicle sticker sales.
Without the sticker revenue, officials say the Village would need to identify another way to generate nearly $300,000 each year to maintain current service levels.
Some residents have questioned why Park Forest continues to require stickers when other nearby towns do not. Pries said those communities still must fund their road programs, just through different means.
“Typically, when a surrounding community gets rid of vehicle stickers, the revenue lost from that is either added to the tax levy or comes from a new source of revenue,” Pries said. “Normally, a different source of revenue replaces the need to sell vehicle stickers.”
In other words, eliminating stickers does not eliminate the cost of maintaining streets. Instead, it shifts how that cost is covered.
Under the Village ordinance, residents who operate vehicles in Park Forest are required to purchase and display a valid sticker annually. Officials say the program ensures that those who use local roadways contribute directly to their upkeep.
Village leaders have framed the sticker program as a user-based funding model — one that helps preserve neighborhood streets without placing the entire burden on property taxes.
As vehicle stickers for the 2026–27 year go on sale March 1, officials say the message is simple: the program remains in place because it plays a key role in keeping Park Forest’s roads maintained year after year.