Winnetka Trustees Adopt Budget With 2.1 Percent Increase

Winnetka homeowners can expect to pay about $125 more for village services according to the 2011-12 budget adopted Tuesday night.

But the 2.1 percent increase is small and fiscally responsible, trustees said. The $125 figure is based on a typical Winnetka homeowner's tax bill of about $20,000, according to a budget agenda report.

"It’s really a stellar budget," said Village President Jessica Tucker. "We’ve come in basically budget-neutral this year."

The budget includes a water rate increase of 7.9 percent (about $53 based on a $20,000 tax bill) and a 1.5 percent increase in electric charges (about $35 based on a $20,000 tax bill). The rest of the increase comes from a 2.8 percent uptick in property tax rates,

The new utility rates take effect April 1. The village board met five separate times before adopting the budget.

Trustees did not raise or lower the cost of other village services, such as refuse collection, vehicle stickers, dog licenses, emergency services or construction permits.

Finance Director Ed McKee assured trustees and a Boy Scout in attendance that Winnetka's finances are sound.

"The village has different funds," McKee explained to the Boy Scout, who asked about the village's cash reserves. The boy's eyes widened when McKee said the village had about $20 million in the general fund as of the end of 2010.

The village kept costs low by analyzing staffing levels and quality of service and elected not to fill a few vacant positions, among other strategies, McKee said.

"Overall, we have adequate reserves for the future for any unknown expenditures at this time. We have what a lot of other communities don’t have – cash," said Trustee E. Gene Greable, who is the board liason to the finance department.

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Winnetka, Northfield and Kenilworth will also retain a consultant who will study the . Interim Police Chief Patrick Kreis said the villages have been considering consolidation for years. The arrangement is intended to enhance community safety and be a more efficient dispatch system, Kreis said. Trustees approved $23,388.75 to hire Elert & Associates. Winnetka is sharing the total cost of $51,975 with the other two villages,

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Trustees continued a conversation about the An ordinance that would alter the composition of the Plan Commission, Businesss Community Development Commission (BCDC) and Environmental and Forestry Commission (EFC) was introduced, but further tweaking was needed after discussion. Among other changes, the trustees favored eliminating representatives from the park district, public schools and library board to the Plan Commission in favor of representatives from the BCDC, EFC and Landmark Preservation Committee.

Trustees also discussed increased communication between the commissions and the village board.

"One of the great things about these boards is they attract people with particular talents or interests," said Trustee E. King Poor. "We don’t want to stifle creativity but we don’t want to let it be a free-for-all either."

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Winnetka trustees also approved sidewalk cafe permits for , , , , , , , , , and , pending a dispute resolution.