Peotone board approves tax levy, begins budget talks, OKs home-based trucking business

By Andrea Arens

The Peotone Village Board approved its 2025 property tax levy, officially launched the fiscal 2027 budget process and signed off on several business and regulatory items during its Dec. 15 regular meeting.

Trustees unanimously approved a 2025 tax levy totaling $715,751, representing a 5% increase over the prior year’s extension, the maximum allowed under state law for non-home rule municipalities. Despite the increase, village officials said residents should not see higher bills.

“Even though the levy itself went up, we expect the tax rate to come down slightly,” Finance Director Ann Marie Mampe told the board. “That means the average taxpayer should actually pay a little bit less to the village when you look at the total tax bill.”

Mampe explained the levy funds specific obligations such as police pensions, Social Security, audits and other required expenses, and that the village’s police pension levy continues to cover half of its annual required contribution.

Trustees also approved related resolutions allocating levy amounts to individual funds and abating taxes tied to debt service on the village’s 2022 general obligation bonds, which are being repaid using tax increment financing (TIF) revenues rather than property taxes.

The meeting also marked the formal kickoff of the village’s fiscal 2027 budget process. Mampe reported that general fund revenues are trending ahead of projections through the first half of the fiscal year, with strong hotel tax collections and investment income nearly meeting the full-year budget already.

“Our hotel tax is almost fully collected halfway through the year, and our investment income has been very strong,” Mampe said. “Those are both really positive indicators as we head into budget planning.”

Village Administrator Nick Palmer said staff and trustees will review departmental budgets and capital projects over the next several months, with final adoption expected in March.

“This is the time of year where we really take a hard look at our revenues, expenses and long-term priorities,” Palmer said. “We don’t have any new major revenue sources coming online, so it’s important that we make sure our fees, infrastructure plans and capital projects are aligned with what the village can realistically support.”

During his report, Mayor Vieaux announced that ESP Solar LLC plans to donate $100,000 to the village in connection with a 2-megawatt solar project approved by Will County earlier this year near Eagle Lake Road and Egyptian Trail. The project is outside village limits but within Peotone’s planning area.

The donation would be split evenly, with half paid at the project’s financial closing and the remaining half when operations begin. Vieaux said he would like the full $100,000 donation to be given to the Mill with board members looking stunned by the announcement. Trustee Gary Hudson asked if that was on the agenda for the meeting. Palmer said it was not but that the funds will be discussed further as part of the budget process.

In other business, trustees approved a home occupation permit for Bingo J Transportation LLC, owner Jiyai Yan, a startup trucking company operating administratively out of an apartment at 532 Hauert St., unit 1. The item had been tabled at the previous meeting due to questions, and communication issues with Yan.

Palmer said he met with the applicant after the last meeting to clarify details.

“This is strictly a residential home occupation,” Palmer said. “There will be no trucks coming to the residence, no customers coming to the residence. It’s all computer and phone-based administrative work.”

The business owner already lives in Peotone and has completed all required registrations with the IRS and Illinois Secretary of State. Palmer said the applicant understands that if the business expands to include vehicles or on-site operations, it would need to relocate to a commercial or industrial property.

“For neighbors, there would be virtually no indication a business is being operated there other than the registration itself,” Palmer said. Trustees unanimously approved the permit. Village ordinances do not have many stipulations for home based businesses.

The board also approved a new business registration for a UPS Store location inside the travel center at 601 S. 88th Ave., updated the village’s investment policy, renewed insurance coverage through the Illinois Municipal Insurance Cooperative, and adopted updated building codes effective for permits submitted after Jan. 1.

Department heads reported on winter snow operations, completion of the village sidewalk program, and pending grant applications for police body and squad car cameras totaling approximately $125,000. Officials also noted that federal funding has been requested for the West Street reconstruction project, though construction would not begin until at least 2029 if approved.

The board also unanimously approved the hiring of part-time police officer Oscar Galarza, who was also sworn in at the board meeting.

The board approved its 2026 meeting schedule and adjourned without public comment.