Oswego Committee of the Whole Meeting – November 4, 2025

The Oswego Village Board Committee of the Whole met at 6:00 PM on November 4, 2025, at Oswego Village Hall, 100 Parkers Mill. The meeting focused on FY2026 budget decisions and public comments on a proposed e-bike/e-scooter ordinance. The committee gave direction on the property tax levy, senior center funding, and a grocery-tax rebate on water bills; the e-bike/e-scooter discussion was deferred to the 7:00 PM regular board meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sam Fagola, a Southbury HOA board member, expressed support for the village addressing e-bikes and e-scooters for the safety of pedestrians and young riders. He recommended lowering the ordinance threshold from 30 mph to 25 mph because residential streets and Southbury Boulevard are already 25 mph, and asked the village to specifically reference Oswego or park district bike paths because HOA declarations prohibit motorized vehicles on its walkways. He also asked whether motorized bikes would be prohibited; the village president said the police chief could address that during his comments.
• David Rood supported Fagola’s comments. He questioned the phrase “only three crashes” involving e-bikes since 2021, saying there is no acceptable number of e-bike crashes. He also noted that if the speed threshold were 25 mph, riders under 16 would be prohibited on neighborhood streets, which would apply to most residential areas.

Discussion Items

FY2026 Budget Review

• Finance staff (Andrea) reported several cleanup changes to the proposed FY2026 budget: removal of the Project Development Report; reduction of the Main Street water main budget after a 5% portion was found double-budgeted in both the TIF and water fund; reduction of the Wolf’s Crossing water main budget after an MFT-funded portion was double-budgeted; and a $100,000 reduction in police dispatch services from $465,000 to $365,000 based on the updated Kencom amount.
• The updated EAV estimate from Kendall County was lower than the projection used at the October 25 budget workshop, requiring an additional $22,075 from the general fund to achieve a 2% levy rate decrease.
• The 2024 EAV was $1,400,840,731; the 2025 estimated EAV is $1,541,185,255, a 10.02% increase, although the latest estimate was slightly lower than the projection used at the workshop.
• With these changes, the projected FY2026 general fund surplus increased from $1,053,193 to $1,131,118. If the board takes no further action, the surplus remains in the general fund and the levy rate decreases by 2.0%.
• The new fueling station will reuse the existing two 2,000-gallon fuel tanks; the originally planned tank capacity increase was not needed.
• Debt call dates were reviewed: a small portion of the Series 2016 bonds is callable December 15, but those bonds carry 3% coupons and current rates are higher, so refinancing would not occur. Other call dates are in 2027 and later.
• The parking credit card fee line item that appeared as $0 was corrected; staff said it was a formula error.

Board members discussed the three outstanding budget items:

• Several trustees supported the 2% levy rate decrease and the proposed $10,000 increase to the senior center contribution, from $50,000 to $60,000.
• The grocery tax rebate proposal drew extended debate. Supporters said water rates are certain to rise because of the Lake Michigan connection project, residents are already feeling cost pressure, and the credit could be adjusted later. Trustees who preferred waiting argued the $600,000 could be used in the spring water-rate calculation to reduce the long-term rate path or pay down project principal, providing larger savings over time.
• Staff noted that a one-time $50 check to each resident would be administratively difficult, but a line-item credit on the bill could be applied easily.

The e-bike/e-scooter ordinance item was not substantively discussed; the board said it would be taken up during staff reports at the 7:00 PM regular board meeting.

Key Outcomes

• No formal board vote was taken; the committee provided direction by consensus and straw poll.
• Committee consensus: keep the FY2026 property tax levy rate decrease of 2.0% in the budget.
• Committee consensus: increase the annual senior center contribution by $10,000, to $60,000.
• Committee consensus by straw poll (five in favor, one trustee opposed) to transfer $600,000 from the general fund to the water and sewer fund for a grocery tax rebate on residential water bills. The rebate would be $50 per account per year, shown as an $8 credit per bill, with the first credit appearing on the March 2026 bill for January–February 2026 water service.
• Staff was directed to prepare the final budget ordinance for the November 18, 2025 vote with these items included, leaving an estimated general fund surplus of roughly $500,000.