Monee Village officials approved the 2026-27 budget without fanfare during a public hearing on May 13.
The $33.1 million budget sailed through a brief session without comments from the audience, which had been anticipated after a social media rally to oppose cutting funding for the annual Property Tax Rebate Program.
Residents on social media had urged others to attend the hearing and protest the board’s decision to eliminate the popular rebate this year.
The cut had been debated at length at previous village board meetings.
Faced with an approximate $6 million drop in revenues since last year’s budget, the board of trustees opted to put the popular refund program “on hiatus” until tax income improves.
According to Village Finance Director Darryl Bulliner, the rebates last year cost the village $388,000.
“We had 690 approved applications, with an average rebate being $560,” he said.
“During the course of the year, sales tax has been lower than anticipated; these taxes are one of the major revenue streams the village has.”
At the start of the required hearing, Mayor Therese Bogs noted, “This has been something the village has struggled with, all of us, on a personal level, and also publicly.
“So, I would like to address the property tax rebates.
“The rebates in recent years were made possible by surplus funds. They were helpful but, ultimately, a luxury. Our village is not alone in pausing this program. Local communities just like ours are facing the same reality, which is rising costs paired with declining state revenue, lower interest income, and unfunded state mandates.
“When people say ‘Trim the fat from the budget,’ I understand that sentiment. Everyone wants to know their tax dollars are being used responsibly. And that is exactly our job.
“But governing is not a diet plan. It’s a set of obligations,” she added.
“In a village like ours, there simply isn’t much excess to cut. The majority of our budget goes directly to the core services our residents rely on every day, being police, public works, water services, road maintenance, infrastructure, emergency response, and community programs.
“These are not extras. They are essential operations that keep our community running.
“I won’t pretend necessary services are indulgences or short-term cuts won’t lead to long-term costs. Fiscal responsibility isn’t just about spending less, it’s about spending wisely.
“That said, we don’t take a single dollar lightly. We review expenses line-by-line, pursue efficiencies, and eliminate unnecessary costs wherever we can. That includes sharing services, delaying non-essential purchases and ensuring contracts remain competitive.
“We are constantly working to make sure every taxpayer dollar does further. What remains isn’t fat,” Bogs said, “it’s muscle. Cutting for the sake of cutting is not responsible governance.
“Thoughtful, strategic budgeting is our focus…maintaining the services people depend on while operating as efficiently as possible. Because our goal is simply to spend less, it’s to spend better so we can meet today’s needs, prepare for tomorrow, and keep our village strong and sustainable.”
There was no additional board discussion and the hearing was over in four-and-a-half minutes.