The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

Main menu

STAY CONNECTED

2018 budget focuses on public safety, infrastructure improvements

With approval of the municipal budget for 2018, resources will continue to focus on infrastructure improvements and enhancing public safety, while ensuring fiscal stability.

For the fourth year in a row, the budget allocates additional resources to maintaining and improving the community’s critical network of streets, alleys and other public infrastructure.

Funding for new Police officers and firefighter/paramedics in 2018 will help further enhance crime prevention and the high level of emergency medical services residents rely upon in times of need.

Technology will continue to play an important role in the year ahead as well, with resources allocated to the long-term goals of making the Village service delivery more efficient and cost-effective through automation and web-accessible, data-driven information management.

Partnerships with agencies that provide a wide range of social services also will continue in the year ahead, including with the Regional Housing Center, Oak Park Residence Corporation, Oak Park Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Oak Park Economic Development Corporation and Oak Park Area Arts Council. These partner agencies have been an integral part of the many special services that have helped make Oak Park diverse, open and inclusive.

Increases in some fees are now effective, including waste collection. Beginning Jan. 1, the monthly cost for a 96-gallon refuse cart is $26.71, up from $25.93, and the cost for a 64-gallon refuse cart is $23.59, up from $21.93. Refuse rates are charged on quarterly water bills. Green yard waste stickers are now $2.60, up from $2.50. Pink bulk-item refuse stickers are $2.35, up from $2.25.

Water rates rose to $9.33 cents per 1,000 gallons used, up from $9.14. Sewer rates, which are based on water use, are now $2.67 per 1,000 gallons of water, up from $2.61. The water and sewer fees include the cost of purchasing Lake Michigan water from the City of Chicago and help fund maintenance and improvements to the local system.

Rates also changed for parking permits, vehicle immobilizations and emergency ambulance transportation.

The 2018 budget is comprised of 31 funds and $146 million in expenditures, down from $149 million in fiscal year 2017.

Expenditures are supported by a number of sources, including property taxes, sales taxes, user fees and intergovernmental revenues.

The budget’s $61-million general fund, which supports most day-to-day municipal operations, will allocate 75 percent of spending to Police, Fire and Public Works.

Information on the budget process and copies of the FY2018 and past year’s budgets are posted at www.oak-park.us/budget.

A wide range of financial documents are also available for public view online at www.oak-park.us/financial-reports.

2018 Budget at a Glance graphic - click to view larger
Click image for larger view