Kendall County Times

The Joliet City Council recently discussed its proposed budget for 2023.

Jim Ghedotte, the City’s director of finance, presented the budget to the board during a Nov. 1 combined-council meeting. He talked the board through the revenues and expenses, noting that the City displays every fund and line in its budget. The 2023 budget was estimated to have $231.5 million in revenues and $231.3 million in expenditures. The City held a public hearing for the budget in mid-November.

"What I like to point out is that the City of Joliet budgets every fund, there is no fund that is not in the budget," Ghedotte said in the meeting. "We present every fund, every line item, every division. We give two years, this year it's 20-21, of actual and the current budget is what the budget was originally adopted, last year. We estimated the year end, we got requests from the City department and the City manager, vetted it and made his recommendation."

The City has proposed to increase its annual tax levy for 2022 by 4.9%. This is made up of an estimated 4% increase in the levy—which is less than the Consumer Price Index (CPI)—and 0.9% that will likely be completely covered in the city by growth and new construction, although the County will have to provide the final numbers. This will amount to just over $2 million.

Additionally, Ghedotte discussed each of the COVID-19 relief funds and grants and where the money has been allocated.

The City received the Distinguished Budget award for the 2022 budget, which was the sixth time it had received the award.

Ghedotte also went through a few changes for the 2023 budget, most of which consisted of new positions or changes in position and various increases or decreases for certain departments, depending on need.