Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Financial Reports’ Category

Pot Holes

There will be a Public Hearing this evening at 6:30 PM at Village Hall to hear comments on the proposed Village of Barrington Hills Annual Appropriation Ordinance.  A copy of the proposal can be found here, and the 2022 ordinance is available here for comparison.

The proposed 2023 Appropriation represents an increase of $1,029,899, reflecting an 11.4 percent increase. The categorical increases comparison to 2022 are as follows:

2023 Inc

The proposed 2023 Roads and Bridges Appropriation is $2,124,500, compared to the amount approved in 2022 of $1,433,160, or a 48.2 percent increase. The reasons are revealed in recordings of the November 8, 2022, two-hour Roads and Bridges Committee meeting found here, but we’ll focus on the primary one for brevity’s sake.

The recordings reveal that, despite the repeated objections of the Village President, relying on his years of experience as Roads and Bridges Chair service, and the Village Engineer, whose expertise we pay for, Laura Ekstrom, current Roads Chair, is recommending the entire length of Oak Knoll Road be resurfaced this year. It’s no secret that Ekstrom happens to live on Oak Knoll Road.

Oak Knoll Road has undergone patching since it was last resurfaced. To the casual observer, this work resulted on a sound road surface with significant useful life remaining.

However, it’s Ekstrom’s contention, likely influenced by neighborhood friends, that Oak Knoll Road suffers, “aesthetically.” Admittedly, the road surface colors won’t pass a color pallet comparison. However, we’ve driven Oak Knoll frequently after Ekstrom’s testimony, and resurfacing Oak Knoll Road prematurely this year would be a waste of taxpayer’s heard earned money.

Furthermore, given her position in Village Government, we find it unethical and egocentric for Ekstrom to even consider a proposal that clearly benefits her.

Read Full Post »

BOT Feb 23

Our Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting tomorrow beginning at 6:30 PM. Some of the topics on their agenda include:

  • Village of Barrington Hills Annual Appropriation Ordinance for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2023, and Ending December 31, 2023. 2.5. Ord – 2023 Approriation.pdf
  • [Vote] Village of Barrington Hills Annual Appropriation Ordinance for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2023, and Ending December 31, 2023 Ordinance 23 –
  • [Vote] Ordinance to Internally Commit Road & Bridge Fund Reserves to Bridge Restoration Ordinance 23 –
  • [Vote] A Resolution Approving A McHenry County Crimes Against Children Task force Agreement with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office Resolution 23 –
  • [Vote] A Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Understanding Between the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Village of Barrington Hills Resolution 23 –
  • [Vote] Resolution Authorizing Execution of the 2023-2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the Village of Barrington Hills and the Metropolitan Alliance of Police Barrington Hills Police Union #576 Resolution 23 –

A copy of the agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

Editorial note: Since the proposed 2023 Annual Appropriation Ordinance represents a 11.4% increase over the 2022 Appropriation, we’ll be sharing our thoughts on the largest contributor to that increase tomorrow.

Read Full Post »

VBH Village Hall

“NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Appropriation Ordinance of the Village of Barrington Hills, Illinois Public Notice is hereby given that at 6:30 PM, on Monday, February 27, 2023, a public hearing will be held by the President and Board of Trustees for the Village of Barrington Hills, Illinois (located in Cook, Kane, Lake and McHenry Counties) in the MacArthur Room at Barrington Hills Village Hall, 112 Algonquin Road, Barrington Hills, Illinois for the purpose of considering the proposed Appropriation Ordinance of the Village of Barrington Hills for the Fiscal Year Commencing January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023.

A copy of the proposed Appropriation Ordinance is available in the Clerk’s office by appointment. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given an opportunity to submit oral or written comments at that time. Written comments on the proposed ordinance will be made part of the record of this proceeding.

All written comments should be mailed/emailed to the Village Clerk to be received by 3:00 PM, February 27, 2023. Village Clerk, Village of Barrington Hills 112 Algonquin Road, Barrington Hills, IL 60010 clerk@vbhil.gov.”

Published in the Daily Herald February 16, 2023

Read Full Post »

BC

With the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic still fresh in their minds, Arlington Heights Finance Director Tom Kuehne and the rest of the village’s budget team are used to playing it safe with revenue estimates.

“We always try to be really conservative with our revenue projections, especially right now, because we really can’t be sure what’s going to happen in the future,” Kuehne said. “And we saw that uncertainty with sales taxes.”

Illinois Department of Revenue records show Arlington Heights saw sales tax revenues climb 30% in one fiscal year. From July 2021 to June 2022, Arlington Heights received $5.7 million more in sales taxes than it did during those same 12 months a year prior.

Kuehne and crew had accounted for a modest increase, but they got about $4.5 million more than what was forecast. And they weren’t alone.

A Daily Herald analysis of 95 suburban sales tax receipts during the state’s 2021 and 2022 fiscal years shows the towns combined to average a 28.6% increase in sales tax revenues, resulting in nearly $230 million more.

In Barrington Hills, sales tax revenue grew from $66,587 in the state’s 2021 fiscal year to $214,071 in 2022, a 222% increase.

Inverness and Wayne, also small bedroom communities, more than doubled sales tax revenues last year.

Read the full Daily Herald story here.

Read Full Post »

11.22 BOT

Our Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting beginning this evening at 6:30 PM. A copy of their agenda can be viewed and downloaded here, however residents should take special note of their draft 2023 Budget, particularly as it relates to Roads & Bridges where at least one expense is up over 100%.

By far one of the largest increases is in, “Road Maintenance Contracts.” This year’s budget is $661,000. But the proposed amount next year is $1,059,200. That’s an increase of $398,200.

“Mowing/Cleanup Contracts,” is going from $70,00 this year to more than double that in 2023 at $150,000.

In an effort to understand the underlying reasons for these and other increases, we listened to the recordings of the nearly two (2) hour November 8th Special Meeting of the Roads & Bridges Committee yesterday.   What we found revealed largely incoherent rambling (as usual) by the chair.  As of this posting, the audio now states, “Unsupported audio,” as seen in this link, unfortunately, but some who heard the recording might consider this a blessing.

Hopefully this evening we’ll learn why such exorbitant roads increases are being proposed, but beforehand we’d like to share some advice with the Roads & Bridges Chair in the form quote from a famous Thanksgiving movie that goes, “…when you’re telling these little stories, here’s a good idea. Have a point. It makes it so much more interesting for the listener!

Read Full Post »

Oct 24 Meeting

Our Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting beginning this evening at 6:30 PM. Some topics on the agenda include:

  • [Vote] A Resolution Authorizing the Purchase and Installation of Tile Flooring by the Village of Barrington Hills Resolution 22 – 12
  • Meeting Calendar 2023 – Draft
  • BACOG’s Private Well Water Testing Summary

Also, for those who’ve endured the deplorable sound quality when phoning in to attempt to participate in board meetings conversations, a new phone number appears on tonight’s agenda. What’s just swell about this new number is an eleven (11) digit meeting ID is required to participate on the call.

One can only assume this added aggravation will result in significantly improved sound quality.  We’re looking forward to being pleasantly surprised.

A copy of the agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

Read Full Post »

6.22 BOT

Our Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting beginning this evening at 6:30 PM. Some of the topics on their agenda include:

  • [Vote] A Resolution Accepting a Grant of Scenic Easement and Conservation Right (Mitchell) Resolution 22 –
  • [Vote] A Resolution Approving an Adjustment to the Professional Services Rate for John Z. Toscas as Special Counsel for Administrative Adjudication Hearing Officer Services Resolution 22
  • 5K/10K The Land We Love Run – JULY 2
  • Barrington Hills Fall Festival 2022

A copy of the agenda can be viewed and downloaded here. It’s unknown if the telephony issues that have plagued recent meetings have been remedied yet, so callers might encounter issues again.

Read Full Post »

May BOT

Our Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting beginning this evening at 6:30 PM. Some of the topics on their agenda include:

  • [Vote] A Resolution of Proclamation Appreciating Patrick Hennelly for 22 years of Dedicated Service to the Village of Barrington Hills Resolution 22 –
  • [Vote] Resolution of Proclamation Appreciating Dr. Gwynne H. Johnston for 28 Years of Dedicated Service to the Village of Barrington Hills Resolution 22 –
  • 5K/10K The Land We Love Run

The two gentlemen being recognized for decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Board of Health have our utmost gratitude and respect for their commitment to the residents of our Village.

A copy of the agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

Read Full Post »

3.2022 BOT

The Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting this evening at 6:30 PM. Some of the topics on their agenda include:

A copy of the agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

Read Full Post »

1.24.22 Agenda

Our Village Board of Trustees meets tomorrow evening at 6:30 PM.  Some of the topics on their agenda include:

  • [Vote] An Ordinance Granting an Amendment to an Existing Special Use Permit to Allow an Addition to Countryside Elementary School, 205 W. County Line Road Ordinance 22 –
  • [Vote] A Resolution Adopting an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Cook County Assessor’s Office to Facilitate Access to GIS Data Resolution 22 –
  • [Vote] Plan Commission Appointment: Maggie Topping, term expires 2024

A copy of their agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »

%d bloggers like this: