Gurnee officials approved a $101 million budget for its upcoming fiscal year, which includes $16.2 million in improvements, like road resurfacing and facility improvements, and investments in public safety.
Spending in the budget increased 8%, or $7.6 million over last year’s budget, which village officials attribute to personnel increases and a focus on public safety. In the past year, Gurnee added three police officers, two firefighters, a community service officer and a GIS specialist to its workforce.
The budget will go into effect on May 1, and run through April 30, 2025.
The Village Board unanimously approved the budget at its regular meeting Monday. After approving the spending plan, the board also approved several items included in the budget, including a $665,000 bid to resurface nearly a mile of roads around the village.
The board allocated $5.9 million in its budget for road resurfacing, and plans to have nearly seven miles of resurfacing done on several Gurnee roads.
Other infrastructure improvements within the budget include $1.3 million that will be spent on water main replacement along Route 21, and $1 million on improvements at two intersections. The village has also allocated $2.5 million for facility improvements at its buildings, including an HVAC replacement at Village Hall, and a generator replacement at the village police station.
The board also allocated $250,000 in the budget to continue funding its Small Business Capital Grant Program, which allows small businesses in the community to receive grants from Gurnee, which will allow the businesses to complete capital improvement projects.
Village Administrator Patrick Muetz said that the 2024 fiscal year spending plan is a “solid budget,” and pointed out that it, again, includes no property tax. Gurnee residents have not had to pay a property tax in 24 years. The village also does not levy a utility tax on its residents.
Village officials estimate revenues of $99.27 million throughout the fiscal year, which is a $7.2 million or 7.9% increase over the previous year.
The increase is primarily attributed to fund transfers within the budget, as well as a 6% increase in water and sewer rates. Gurnee gives a discount to senior residents on water rates, and despite the increase in water and sewer rates, Muetz said that the village is adjusting the senior discount so it will remain the same price.
“To keep our seniors flat, we’re increasing the rate of that discount,” he said.
After approving the budget, Mayor Tom Hood thanked the village staff for its work putting it together, and making it an “easy process” for the board to approve.
“Thank you to the staff, we really appreciate your hard work on this,” Hood said. “Thank you to the Village Board. It’s amazing how smooth the operation runs. I really appreciate the efforts that go in on the front end early on, so that by the time we get here it’s a pretty easy process.”
