Frankfort approves balanced budget

Updated: May 29, 2012 1:36PM

FRANKFORT — There is money in Frankfort’s new budget for many projects that residents may not even see.

Frankfort trustees unanimously approved a new $12 million budget this week, plus set aside $6.3 million for capital projects and another $6.8 million for utility projects.

Most people won’t be intrigued about hundreds of thousands of dollars being spent for screening and blowers for the wastewater treatment plant. But it does matter that the plant operates efficiently as it discharges into — and hopefully improves — Hickory Creek, village administrator Jerry Ducay said.

Residents won’t see the new water mains underground, but they might notice a new squad car or truck. Those who attend events at Breidert Green will be excited that a new 97-space parking lot will be completed in the new fiscal year in the downtown area, near the former Fox Lumber site.

And who doesn’t like a newly resurfaced street? The list of those projects has yet to be completed.

Funds also have been carried over for projects that may not get done this year but still are on the village’s wish list.

As it has for the past few fiscal years, Frankfort will carry over $2.5 million earmarked for the expansion of the village hall. Another $650,000 is set aside “just in case” the village has an opportunity to acquire some land, Ducay said.

If a new grocery store gets built on LaGrange Road, $1 million is in the budget for a new road for that development.

There is also $2 million for two new wells if the village can find the right site, Ducay said.

Some of these projects are not as pressing since population growth has slacked off, he said.

The new budget is balanced, and the fiscal year is off to a promising start. Ducay said revenues from sales tax and its share from the state for income tax both exceeded expectations last year, a trend he anticipates will continue.

“These are positive trends for the economy,” he said.

Show / Hide Comments