Police station construction, library roof among big projects in proposed Des Plaines budget
Des Plaines’ proposed $197.7 million budget for the 2025 fiscal year includes funds for completing the police station expansion, installing a new roof over the library and designing a new fire station, officials revealed this week.
Millions also are set aside for road projects, sewer system improvements and other work.
“The city is making exciting and significant facility upgrades,” spokesman Brad Goodman said in an email.
The city’s fiscal year begins Jan. 1.
The spending plan is about $3.2 million greater than the current fiscal year’s $194.5 million total, an increase of less than 2%, which city spokesman Brad Goodman noted is less than half the current national rate of inflation.
The conclusion of the roughly $15.6 million expansion of the police station, 1418 Miner St., could be the most anticipated project in the budget. The overall effort was authorized in 2020 but didn’t get underway until 2023 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
New jail cells, an area for patrol officers, a roll call room and other amenities are part of the project. About $2 million is included in the proposed budget for the last of the work, Goodman said.
Roughly the same amount is in the spending plan to replace the roof at the library, 1501 Ellinwood St.
And more than $1 million is set aside to design a new Fire Station No. 62 on the 1300 block of East Oakton Street.
Constructed in the 1950s, Station No. 62 is the oldest of the city’s three stations. The new station will be built where the current facility now stands and on neighboring city-owned property. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026.
The proposed budget also includes nearly $7 million for roadwork and more than $10 million to improve stormwater and sanitary sewer systems, Goodman said.
City officials also have budgeted $5.5 million to add another floor to the civic center parking garage, $500,000 for the business assistance grant program and $425,000 for the police department’s in-car and body-worn camera system subscription, among other projects and purchases.
City officials expect to collect about $159.1 million in property taxes, fees and other revenue in 2025. That’s up about $6.3 million from the current year’s $152.8 million estimate, or an increase of more than 4%. Goodman attributed the projected cash increase to water fees and a jump in the city’s share of gambling revenues from Rivers Casino.
The city’s property tax levy won’t increase in 2025, officials say.
The 506-page budget document can be found online at desplainesil.gov.
The council has scheduled public budget meetings for Oct. 10, Oct. 16 and, if needed, Oct. 24. Those meetings are set for 7 p.m. at city hall, 1420 Miner St.
The council is expected to vote on the budget Nov. 18.