Friday, May 4, 2012
Montgomery officials have set May 9 and May 14 as the dates for public hearings on electric aggregation, which voters approved in March. This will be a chance to voice concerns and suggest changes to the plan, village leaders said.
On March 20, Montgomery voters in both Kane and Kendall counties said yes to municipal electric aggregation – essentially, letting village leaders seek out cheaper electric rates for virtually everyone in town. Before they can move forward with a plan to do just that, though, the village is bound by law to hold a pair of public hearings, and listen to what you have to say about the matter. So they’ve set those – one will be during the May 9 Committee of the Whole meeting, and the second at the May 14 Village Board meeting, both at Village Hall. The idea, according to Acting Village Administrator Jeff Zoephel, is to gather feedback on the aggregation plan, which is available on the village website. (If you prefer a hard copy, they have …
Friday, May 13, 2011
The $100,000 grant was initially earmarked for the Route 30 Bridge, but will now go to refurbishing local streets.
A state grant originally earmarked for a renovation of the Route 30 Bridge will now help the village of Montgomery refurbish more local roads. Finance Director Jeff Zoephel explained at Wednesday night’s Finance Committee meeting that the village had received a $100,000 grant from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, to help restore the bridge over Route 30. However, Zoephel said, that amount of money “doesn’t begin to touch” the costs required for that project, and the village has no other funds to complete it. Village leaders told DCEO they could not accept the grant, but state officials offered to give the money anyway, if it could be used for another purpose. Trustees all agreed Wednesday that the money should be …
Monday, May 9, 2011
Gov. Pat Quinn wants to withhold $100 million in state tax payments to villages and cities, which could have serious statewide consequences.
Montgomery officials are joining in statewide efforts to oppose Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposal to withhold $100 million in state tax money from cities and villages. Quinn’s plan, presented late last month, would reduce municipalities’ share of state taxes by that amount if lawmakers do not agree to borrow billions to prop up the state’s budget, something legislators have been less than willing to consider to this point. Should Quinn go through with it, the effect could be significant on cities and villages all across the state, some of whom are already waiting on state tax payments they’re owed. “I personally think he’s using municipalities as pawns,” said Montgomery Village President Marilyn Michelini. “He’s trying to use them as leverage to …
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
The $23.3 million spending plan—which includes $8.8 million in general fund expenses—takes effect May 1.
The village of Montgomery has a budget for fiscal year 2012. With a vote of 4-2, village trustees approved the proposed $23.3 million spending plan Monday night. They also voted 4-2 to approve a salary plan for village employees, one that includes a one-percent pay increase and the possibility of three-percent merit increases for those not covered by either the police or public works union. The 2012 budget includes $8.8 million for general fund costs, including the day-to-day operations of the village. It’s a balanced budget, according to Finance Manager Jeff Zoephel, thanks in part to the increase in population reported in the 2010 census. With more than 1,300 new residents coming to Montgomery in the past two years, Zoephel expects to …
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Montgomery's share of state taxes is going up thanks to more than 1,300 new residents in the past two years.
The village of Montgomery has grown by more than 1,300 people in the past two years. And that means more state money coming in, which means fewer budget woes for 2012. Village Finance Manager Jeff Zoephel announced at Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting that he’s revised his 2012 revenue projections upward, based on new figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau last week. The 2010 census shows Montgomery with 18,438 residents – an increase of nearly 8.2 percent over 2008, when the village last commissioned a special census. That means the village’s share of state income tax and local use tax is set to go up next year. Zoephel said he expects to take in an additional $126,000 into the general fund, and about $32,000 more into the …
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Trustees hash out details of proposed $8.8 million spending plan.
The Montgomery Village Board got its first look at the proposed 2012 budget Wednesday night, a plan that would see the village spend just under $8.8 million—an increase of about $780,000 over 2011. And while this was the first of many budget discussions to come before the fiscal year begins on May 1, trustees hashed out several proposed expenses, including the most controversial—an SUV for the police department, estimated to cost $60,000. It’s been a lean few years for Montgomery. According to Village Manager Anne Marie Gaura, the village was among the first communities to cut staff when the economy started to go south in 2009. Six employees lost their jobs, and three others had their hours cut, she said, and the budgets for the past few …
Matt Walker
2:21 pm on Sunday, April 17, 2011
The article states that "part" of the arborist's duties will consist of overseeing work performed by contractors on basins in the subdivisions. Lana is correct that Lakewood Creek HOA puts aside money to take care of its own ponds. I don't believe that the village has levied a tax in Lakewood Creek to fund maintenace of Lakewood Creek as a special service area. The village website designates … more ›