Plainfield starts work on its next budget
By Madhu Mayer Correspondent October 29, 2012 12:32PM
Updated: December 1, 2012 6:17AM
Anytime the village gets a new traffic-control device or a red-light camera fine violation is collected, it affects Plainfield’s coffers.
For that reason, the number-crunching process has started on the 2013-14 capital budget. Revenues in the capital fund for the 2013-14 fiscal year are projected at $6.1 million, compared to the 2012 adopted budget of $6.8 million.
Revenues include state taxes, licenses and permits, grants and fines and forfeitures.
Anticipated expenses for the upcoming fiscal year are $5.7 million, which is nearly the same compared to the previous year. Roadway improvements, pavement patching and bridge repairs and construction are among the capital expenses.
Village officials said a surplus of $5.7 million is great news, considering the account had deficits of $4.8 million in 2009 and $797,676 the following year.
Allen Persons, public works director, said the village is holding its own during tough economic times.
“It’s a fiscally conservative budget as far as capital improvements are concerned,” he said. Whenever possible, Persons noted that the village always pursues grant funding to pay for roadway improvements rather than use its own funds.
One unanticipated expense for the village in the upcoming budget is spending $200,000 to buy new trees to replace those affected by the emerald ash borer .
Fines from red-light camera violations have gradually decreased from $239,300 in 2011 to the projected $200,000 in the 2014 budget. The reason for the revenue decline, said traffic Sgt. Eric Munson, is drivers have gotten used to the cameras at Route 59 and 135th Street and Route 30 and Renwick Road.
The village will not be adopting the 2013-2014 budget until spring of next year. A public hearing on the budget will precede village board action.
