Grundy Reporter

Like many local governments across the country, the Minooka Village Board of Trustees is trying to reconcile its annual budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year, but the full financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to be determined.  

The Village Board recently announced the community's general fund has a balance of $93,000, according to WCSJ News. The positive fund balance is good news for the village, but the COVID-19 pandemic has created a sense of financial uncertainty.

The Minooka Village annual budget proposal for 2020-21 had been established and village Finance Director John Harrington said he doesn't feel it needs to be changed at this time.

"With the whole COVID issue, we didn't do anything with revenue at this point," Harrington told WCSJ. "I've been back and forth with a lot of my cohorts in other communities and at this point a lot of them are kind of keeping their budgets status quo."

The budget proposals for municipalities include funding for the local police department and the wastewater treatment plant. Those departments can expect funding to add one additional position each during the upcoming fiscal year. Otherwise, Harrington said all other positions proposed under the village's budget will most likely be removed. 

As for infrastructure, funding may remain earmarked for projects north of Interstate 80, including improvements at the wastewater treatment facility and general work.

Harrington told WCSJ leadership in Minooka and leaders in surrounding communities will make the best financial decisions based on what they know now.

"Without having really good information on what it's going to look like, a lot of them are taking their budget in place, but having a plan, knowing that revenue is going to go down in many places," Harrington said.