Flossmoor officials say the village’s finances have taken a few hits in recent months — but leaders believe the community is still on solid footing.
During a discussion of the village’s preliminary Fiscal Year 2027 budget at the board meeting on Monday, March 9, trustees reviewed revenue trends, infrastructure needs and ongoing financial pressures, including delayed property tax payments from Cook County.
Even with those challenges, several key revenue streams are performing better than expected.
Village officials reported that sales tax and non-home rule sales tax revenue are anticipated to come in about $760,000 higher than budgeted this fiscal year, a trend staff said is largely tied to inflation and continued consumer spending.
Other revenue sources are also exceeding projections. The village expects to receive about $135,000 in casino tax revenue and roughly $450,000 more in ambulance service fees because of increased call volume and higher service charges. About $290,000 of that ambulance revenue will be returned to the state for Medicaid-related reimbursements.
Not every revenue category is trending upward. Utility tax revenue is projected to come in about $50,000 below budget, something officials say often reflects seasonal weather patterns and energy usage.
Infrastructure needs also remain a major focus for the village. Officials noted that the water and sewer system continues to require long-term investment as Flossmoor works to address aging infrastructure. Previous projects replacing water mains and meters have improved reliability and reduced water loss, but additional capital improvements are expected in the coming years.
The proposed spending plan also includes funding for several projects that were delayed during the current fiscal year. Those projects include continued implementation of the village’s electronic document management system, expansion of the police department’s retail camera network, improvements to village hall facilities and additional downtown signage.
Trustees said the budget process itself reflects months of work by staff.
“It’s always impressive to me how much work goes into this,” Trustee Gary Daggett said during the discussion. “You finish one budget and you’re already moving into the next one. There’s a tremendous amount of effort that goes into preparing it.”
Trustee James Mitros summed up the village’s situation with a quote from former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson.
“I think of Mike Tyson’s line, ‘Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face,’” Mitros said. “We’ve taken a few punches, but we’re still standing and doing a good job. This village is handling things better than a lot of communities in Cook County.”
For village leaders, the analogy reflects the balancing act facing many municipalities: managing unpredictable revenue streams, rising costs and infrastructure needs while maintaining services for residents.
Despite those challenges, trustees said Flossmoor’s financial planning and diversified revenue sources have helped the village absorb the blows.
