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Mayor Rotering delivered the following remarks:
In a few moments, we will approve our 2025 City Budget. Kudos to our Finance Department, former Director Julie Logan, new Director Kristi McCaulou, City Manager Ghida Neukirch, our entire senior team, and this City Council for once again putting together an excellent budget, one that supports our commitment to fiscal stability, public safety, investment in our infrastructure, economic development and environmental sustainability.
It is responsible, it is balanced, it is forward-focused, it supports our values, and it clearly reflects the priorities of our community. This budget meets the City’s revenue, financial, budgetary and capital policies – all of which are provided in this document – and it only takes 8 cents out of every property tax dollar.
We are one of only a handful of Illinois cities with the highest bond rating available – Aaa. This doesn’t just happen. Our cost-effective approach to fiscal management minimizes the financial impact on residents with revenue diversification and cost-efficient expenditures, even while costs rise due to inflation and other external factors.
When I became mayor, we as a City Council agreed to make investing in infrastructure a priority. It had been a constant annual expenditure of $10.8 million with no acknowledgment of inflation or variable needs or conditions. We were falling behind. Rebuilding and maintaining infrastructure is messy. It’s expensive. It’s disruptive, but it’s critical for our public health and safety. The 2025 Budget includes $36 million for our streets, our sewers, our water mains, stormwater management, sidewalks. There’s more to do and we will be getting it done.
Public safety is critical, and we are fortunate to be protected and cared for by the best. In 2024, our first responders answered over 26,000 calls. 26,000 calls. It’s like everyone who had a phone called for help at one point or another this year. Chiefs, thank you for the great work you and your teams have done.
Economic development is a priority, and we have and will continue to invest prudently in our local economy. We are seeing the fruits of those efforts with 93.1% occupancy in our retail space and correlating increases in sales tax dollars per square foot.
And as we sit here in late November on a day that nearly hit the 50s, we continue to look at City operations and investments with a sustainability lens. We are making progress, but we have a handful of goals not yet met that we will continue to work on as our future and the futures of our children depend on it.
I urge anyone interested in City policy and decision-making to take a moment and read our 2025 Budget. It reflects our values as a community. It is balanced and transparent, costs line up clearly with revenues, and it is a fun read!
Nancy R. Rotering
Mayor, City of Highland Park
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