An increase in the Naperville Park District budget for 2023 could result in a $17 property tax bill hike for the average district homeowner, budget documents show.
The proposed spending plan, which will be reviewed Thursday by the Naperville Park Board, calls for $47.1 million in expenditures. That’s $2.7 million more than the $44.5 million budgeted for 2022, or an increase of 6%.
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Revenue is projected to be about $43.4 million, of which $25.7 million — about 54% — comes from property taxes, documents show.
The projected $3.6 million budget deficit will be covered by surplus money transferred from various district funds.
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Money collected from all revenue sources pay for employee salaries and benefits, building, land and facility maintenance, and other expenses associated with running 136 parks and overseeing 2,400 acres of land.
For the last eight years, there has been positive growth in the equalized assessed valuation, or EAV, of residential and commercial properties in the district, which determine real estate tax rates. That trend is expected to continue for the 2022 levy year, during which the EAV is projected to rise 4%, officials said.
The average house in the district is valued at $421,000. If the budget is approved as presented, that homeowner will pay $406 in property taxes to the district in 2023, $17 more than last year.
After property taxes, the second largest revenue source for the district are charges for programs and services, which account for 24% or $11.5 million of the total budget.
District officials project that participation in recreational programming and fitness memberships will exceed pre-pandemic levels, which should cause revenues to rise $2 million or 21%.
Other revenue streams include:
- Fund transfers of $3.6 million (or 8% of budget);
- Miscellaneous revenues from reimbursement accounts owed to the district from athletic affiliates or the city, cell tower revenue, parking permits, ticket revenue and employee insurance contributions of $2.1 million (5%);
- Sales from concessions, merchandise, brochure advertising and golf memberships of $1.3 million (3%);
- Corporate replacement tax from the state of $736,900 (2%);
- Interest Income of $769,900 (2%);
- Rental income from facility and field rentals and tournaments of $689,700 (1%);
- Alternative revenue such as grants, sponsorship income, donations and cash-in-lieu receipts of $638,100 (1%).
On the expense side, wages and benefits makeup 38% or $19.5 million of the district’s spending, followed by capital projects (27% or $13.6 million), contractual services (14% or $7.3 million), principal and interest on outstanding debt (7% or $3.3 million), transfers from the general fund (7% or $3.6 million), supplies (5% or $2.3 million) and utilities (2% or $1.1 million).
Among the capital projects planned in 2023 are playground renovations at Gartner Park, Hobson Grove, Timber Creek Park and Wil-O-Way Commons; renovation of basketball court at Cress Creek Park; new park and playground projects at Heritage Place Park and Naper Commons Park; renovation of Centennial Park skate facility; installation of the Rothermel Family Pickleball Courts at Frontier Sports Complex; and installation of the Frank J. Rus Pavilion at Knoch Knolls Park.
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Another $4.3 million in capital projects are budgeted, but may be added or removed, depending on the scope, budget and the development schedule.
The budget reflects seven goals established by the park board, including efforts to:
- Attract and retain staff;
- Leverage innovation in maintenance practices and district operations to help overcome staffing and workload challenges;
- Initiate the new three-year strategic plan that was created with feedback from the board, staff and community stakeholders;
- Develop the district’s new master plan for approval in early 2023 based on the 2022 community survey;
- Reopen Springbrook Golf Course in late spring or early summer following work on tees, bunkers and green surrounds and ponds, new bridges and a stone wall, and a new drainage system; and
- Work with Naperville on updating the Riverwalk/Carillon agreement;
- Rebuild the district’s volunteer program.
