Committee of the Whole Workshop – February 9, 2026

The Village of Plainfield Committee of the Whole Workshop convened on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Boardroom. The meeting focused on the draft Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget for the Streets Department and General Fund Revenues. Trustees also handled routine appointments and heard a comment from a trustee regarding a peaceful student protest.

Consent Calendar

• Appointment of Chair: Trustee Wojowski was appointed as this evening’s Chair by unanimous vote.
• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the January 26, 2026, Committee of the Whole Workshop were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public offered comments.

Discussion Items

• Streets Department Budget Presentation: Superintendent Tony Torres delivered an in-depth overview of the Streets Division, covering its three sections (streets, forestry/grounds, and fleet). Key statistics included: 450+ miles of roadways, 330 miles of sidewalk, 7,000 regulatory signs, 50 traffic signals, over 25,000 parkway trees, and 4,000+ streetlights. The division has 16 CDL drivers, 1,300 completed work orders year-to-date, and has deployed for 11 snow events totaling 19 deployments, using over 2,200 tons of salt and 2,500 operational hours. Challenges highlighted: aging fleet (15 units over 20 years old, 77 units between 10-15 years), aging workforce, and inadequate salt storage (three open bins). A proposed solution is a 7,000-ton salt storage barn with a lean-to for brine operations, estimated at over $2 million. A $300,000 grant from Senator Durbin’s office has been awarded but requires an application process. The barn would allow bulk salt purchasing and support anti-icing operations. The division also discussed training programs (CDL in-house, Arborist certifications, stormwater inspectors) and a five-year equipment replacement plan.
• Budget Details: Finance staff presented the proposed FY27 Streets budget, a ~9% increase over the adopted FY26 budget. The increase includes 2.5 new positions: two maintenance workers (one streets, one combined streets/forestry) and a development engineer funded 50% from streets and 50% from water/sewer. Year-to-date expenditures are at 66% of the current budget. Salary adjustments reflect a realignment of coding between streets and forestry. Contractual services for snow removal are proposed at $575,000, unchanged from the current year. A new line item for an OSHA hearing conservation program was added. Health insurance renewal rates are not yet finalized (preliminary 19-21% increases for PPO/HMO).
• General Fund Revenues: Revenue projections show sales tax as the top source (nearly 30% of the budget), property tax (22%), and income tax (increasing). Year-to-date general fund revenues are at 93% of the budget through approximately 75% of the fiscal year, driven by property tax (100% collected) and building permit fees (139% of budget due to high activity). The proposed FY27 General Fund budget is ~11% higher than adopted, consistent with estimated current year figures. Use tax is declining due to changes in internet sales tax reporting; some of that revenue is expected to shift to sales tax. Cannabis dispensary sales tax revenues are recorded in the capital fund. Refuse fees (charges for services) grow with household accounts (now ~15,000-16,000). Franchise fees from cable/telecom continue a long-term decline. Building permits are conservatively budgeted at $2.5 million after two years above $2 million.
• Trustee Comments: A trustee thanked Plainfield police officers for ensuring a peaceful protest by high school students on the prior Friday. Multiple trustees expressed strong appreciation for the Streets Department’s work in snow removal, beautification, and overall village maintenance, noting its positive impact on public safety and quality of life.

Key Outcomes

• The Board received the presentations and took no formal action; the budget process continues with future meetings.
• Upcoming Schedule:
  • February 23, 2026, 7:00 PM: Next Committee of the Whole Workshop (capital and water/sewer budgets).
  • March 2, 2026, 7:00 PM: Village Board meeting.
  • March 9, 2026: Potential additional budget review (if needed).
  • April 6, 2026: Public hearing and possible adoption of the FY27 budget.
• The salt storage barn project will be included in the capital budget, to be presented on February 23.
• Staff will continue to monitor health insurance renewal rates and provide updates.