Huntley Village Board Approves $20.1 Million Budget

The Huntley Village Board has approved a 2012 budget that represents a 27.6 percent decrease in expenditures over last year.

During a special Village Board meeting Thursday, trustees unanimously approved the fiscal 2012 operating and capital budget, which lists $20.1 million in total expenditures.

The budget is $7.7 million less than last year’s total, according to village officials.

The board also approved the 2011 annual property tax levy for $3.8 million, the same amount the village collected this year. Last month, village administrators and trustees recognized the need to freeze the levy in light of the economy.

Huntley Village Manager Dave Johnson gave trustees a brief overview of line-item expenditures planned for next year.

Capital fund projects budgeted for 2012 include the widening of Dean Street at a cost of $120,000; the Kreutzer Road extension project for $300,000; and extension of Reed Road at a cost of $60,000.

The  will replace four squad cars next year at a cost of $162,000 total. Last year, the department did not replace any vehicles, Johnson said.

Johnson said that for 2012, the village eliminated two employee positions previously authorized but not funded. In all, the village has 4.5 employee positions that remain vacant. Next year’s budget allows for 89.5 total employees, compared to the staff of 95 workers authorized in 2008-09, Johnson said.

The village budget is broken down into 20 separate funds to accommodate the different services and projects. The principal operating funds are the general fund and the enterprise fund, which covers water and sewer. The major capital funds include capital projects, water and sewer, municipal buildings and street improvement funds, according to village documents.

This year, a new fund was created for improvement of Huntley’s downtown district, as part of the downtown revitalization plan.