Village Board, Administrators Continue Budget Discussion

Mokena road repairs and maintenance could be delayed in the near future because of decreasing funds and the increasing cost of snow removal, village administrators told the village board of trustees during a work session Monday night.

Repairs and maintenance are funded by the motor fuel tax (MFT) fund, but stagnation in MFT receipts has led to repairs and maintenance being funded by the half-percent sales tax fund. 

The MFT fund has also been hit hard by the rising cost of snow removal. In 2006, snow removal cost the village $97,000. In 2010, it cost $343,000. Downs said this was because of the number and severity of snow-related events as well as the rising cost of salt.

Downs said road maintenance is a "never-ending focus" for the village. In 2011, the village budgeted $650,000 to repair 2 1/2 miles of roads, but because of a favorable bid, it was able to repair three miles. But that is still below the ideal goal of four miles a year.

The proposed road programs for 2012 through 2015 all show decreases in the number of miles of roads to be repaired, from 2.01 in 2012 down to 1.73 in 2015. In addition, patching on Wolf Road and erosion control, which were expected to take place in 2012, will now be worked into the 2013 budget. Repairs to Schoolhouse Road have been deferred beyond 2016.

Recently, the state approved an additional $405,000 for capital improvements in Mokena, and while the village has already received $81,000 from the state, Downs said the exact timeframe for receiving the money was uncertain.

"In this economy, we have to stay fluid," he said.

He said the village had slated the $81,000 for tree removal in anticipation of the emergence of the emerald ash borer and for crack filling.