Village should keep budget process open

The village board of trustees approved the 2015-16 budget at a briefing session on April 1. With a tax increase of 2.83 percent, it’s one of the most fiscally responsible spending plans in years. The last time the tax increase was less than 3 percent was in 2000. Keeping it that low, especially considering that the increases both last year and the year before were over 4 percent, is an accomplishment that should be touted by village officials.

But there was no touting. In fact, there was what seemed to us to be unnecessary secretiveness. While there was public notice of the meeting, and the budget was posted on the village website, citizens were afforded no opportunities to comment, to make recommendations, to denounce or applaud the plan.

Instead, a month before it had to be approved, the board passed the budget in the mayor’s office, not even in the courtroom where most public meetings are held.

There is no televised record of the vote, because the mayor’s office, unlike the courtroom, is not equipped for it. And the board knows that few people attend briefing sessions — fewer, even, than attend regular public meetings.

Transparency is vital in government, and even more so in local government. The president won’t run into his constituents in the grocery store, but a village mayor is more than likely to. When governance is conducted in the open, it builds trust. When government does its business quietly, with even the appearance of secrecy, residents don’t attribute that to humility, but are instead tempted to think something’s being done behind their backs.

The budget is commendable. The work of the mayor and board is laudable. We would just prefer more openness to citizen participation and candor in the spending plan’s preparation and approval.