Oswego Village Committee of the Whole FY2027 Budget Workshop

The Oswego Village Board Committee of the Whole convened on October 24, 2026, for its Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Workshop. The workshop covered the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and the Operating Budget. President Coffin, Trustees Cooper, Hughes, Koenig, McCarthy Lang, and Torres were present. Trustee Novi was absent. Staff presented comprehensive financial data and departmental requests. The board deferred final budget decisions to a November 2nd follow-up meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public addressed the board during the public forum.

Discussion Items

• Capital Improvement Plan (CIP): Staff presented a $98.5 million capital plan for 2027 spanning 44 projects and 10 vehicle purchases. Key projects include the $56 million Lake Michigan water connection, the $15.4 million Wolf's Crossing Douglas Roundabout, and the long-deferred Vactor truck purchase ($750k) enabled by the new Public Works facility. The board discussed the TIF fund's $11 million in internal loans to other funds and the sustainability of the fleet fund's five-year outlook, which changed significantly, leading to the deferral of three vehicles to 2028.
• Operating Budget & Property Tax: The General Fund budget projects a $1.1 million surplus on $33.3 million in revenue. A proposed 5% decrease in the property tax levy rate was discussed, which would be the lowest rate on record, driven by an 8.5% increase in Equalized Assessed Valuation (EAV). Trustee Hughes requested deeper analysis on why commercial EAV growth appears to lag residential growth despite strong overall sales tax revenue.
• Staffing & Public Safety: Five new positions were proposed including a police sergeant for midnight shift oversight, a K-9 School Resource Officer for junior highs, a facilities technician, a water operator, and a FOIA clerk. The board expressed strong support for the additional public safety positions. The 39% increase in Kencom dispatch costs was discussed, with Trustee Hughes, who sits on the Kencom board, noting it is partly structural and related to future building and modernization needs.
• Technology & Economic Development: The village is rolling out an AI assistant ("Aussie") and a branded mobile app, set for a January 2027 launch. The Economic Development department highlighted the downtown grant program, where $617,000 in village investment has leveraged over $4.2 million in private investment, a return of roughly $7 to $1.
• Asset Management & Infrastructure: A five-year tree pruning plan was presented. Trustee McCarthy Lang stressed the need for a resident communication strategy for homes in later years of the rotation cycle, noting residents in those zones currently have no clear guidance on managing overgrowth.
• Surplus Allocation Debate: The board debated allocating a $1 million general fund surplus. Trustee Hughes strongly advocated for continuing the $50/year grocery tax water bill rebate ($625k cost), stating the village should be "listening and caring." Trustee Torres questioned if residents might prefer the funds directed to road repair or tree trimming. Trustee Cooper advised prioritizing essential services over "nice-to-haves" like a new digital village hall sign. No consensus was reached, and the discussion was tabled.

Key Outcomes

• The budget workshop concluded with no formal votes. All final decisions were deferred to the November 2, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting.
• Staff was directed to prepare additional analysis for the November 2nd meeting, including a breakdown of commercial vs. residential EAV growth, updated water rate impact data, and a formal schedule of property tax levy options (including holding the levy flat).
• The board agreed to schedule a dedicated future Committee of the Whole to specifically discuss the phasing and financing of the Wolf's Crossing Road project.