2026 budget centers on service delivery, strategic priorities
Published on December 30, 2025
The municipal budget for 2026 focuses on delivering core services to Oak Park community members while also advancing strategic priorities set out by the Village Board.
The 2026 budget is comprised of numerous funds totaling $223 million in expenditure, excluding interfund transfers.
The budget’s $96 million general fund, which supports most day-to-day municipal operations, allocates a large share of spending to the critical services provided by the Police, Fire and Public Works departments.
Many projects in the budget for 2026 were included with the intent of furthering the Village Board’s goals in the following areas:
- Community affordability
- Community health and safety
- Racial equity
- Vibrant, diverse, connected neighborhoods
- Sustainability and resiliency
- Economic vitality
- Organizational effectiveness
Expenditures are supported by several sources including property taxes, sales taxes, user fees, utility taxes and real estate transfer taxes.
Property taxes will contribute to 36% of the Village’s General Fund expenditures in 2026. Based on current available data, approximately 15.2% of an Oak Park property owner’s tax bill goes toward funding the Village’s municipal services and state-mandated Police and Fire pensions.
Refuse collection rates are increasing slightly in 2026, with the cost for a 96-gallon refuse cart $31.13, up from $30.22, and the cost for a 64-gallon refuse cart $28.27, up from $27.45. The 2026 monthly compost collection rate is $16.80, up from $16.31. Pink bulk item stickers will be $4, up from $3.25. The cost of green yard waste stickers is unchanged at $3.25.
Water rates increase to $11.94 per 1,000 gallons in 2026, up from $11.37. Sewer rates, which are based on water use, will be $3.42 per 1,000 gallons of water used, up from $3.26. The majority of water and sewer fees cover the cost of purchasing Lake Michigan water from the City of Chicago, with a share also helping fund maintenance and improvements to the local water delivery systems.
Information on the budget process and copies of the Fiscal Year 2026 and past year’s budgets are available at www.oak-park.us/budget and by contacting finance@oak-park.us.