Finance & Budget Committee Meeting 9-2-2026

The City of Evanston Finance & Budget Committee met on September 2, 2026, to discuss several key fiscal and procurement-related issues. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the status and future of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts, with motions passed to close certain TIFs early while tabling decisions on others for further study in early 2027. The committee also considered but ultimately voted against implementing early retirement or voluntary separation programs as cost-saving measures for the 2027 budget. Presentations were made regarding the solid waste fund, including proposals for increased fees such as a bag tax and potential staffing additions to address service demands like fly dumping. The committee reviewed the capital improvement program (CIP) and discussed the challenges of managing the city’s general obligation bond issuance within a $20 million cap, highlighting the need for future prioritization of projects. The water fund was another major topic, with detailed scenarios presented on rate increases and bond issuance to fund extensive water main and lead service line replacements. The committee discussed balancing rate increases with bond issuance and the impact on affordability. Finally, the committee reviewed a list of budgetary revenue and expenditure ideas, including fee increases for permits, transportation network providers, and food and beverage taxes, while emphasizing the importance of staffing efficiencies and cautious use of reserves. Motions were made to advance some of these proposals and to continue discussions on others in future meetings.