Burr Ridge homeowners will owe zero in village property taxes next year.

The Board of Trustees approved an ordinance on Monday, Nov. 9, fully abating the village's $1,386,351 property tax levy for 2026, according to the village's board packet. The levy covers three funds: Corporate, Police Pension and Police Protection. With the abatement, DuPage and Cook county clerks will levy the amount on paper but collect nothing, resulting in a zero-dollar municipal property tax bill payable in 2027.

The move follows the board's Sept. 14 vote to raise the village's non-home rule sales tax rate from 0.25% to 1.00%, effective Jan. 1, 2027. Village Administrator Evan Walter told the board at its Oct. 26 meeting that the sales tax revenue would more than cover the property tax loss. Because Burr Ridge is a non-home rule community, it must continue levying and then abating the tax each year to preserve its statutory taxing capacity.

The special meeting, held at the Police Department training room at 7700 County Line Road, also addressed the ongoing Village Hall saga. At the Oct. 26 meeting, the board had already voted to reject all 12 construction bids for a planned addition at 7700 County Line Road after the lowest bid, $13,796,996 from Staalsen Construction of Chicago, far exceeded the $8.5 million estimate from Legat Architects. Staff and the village's owner's representative, Consertus, said value engineering could not feasibly close the gap.

Walter outlined an alternative at the Oct. 26 meeting: keep administrative staff at 451 Commerce Street, where they relocated after the old Village Hall at 7660 County Line Road was slated for sale to Goddard for $2.7 million. The police training room would be converted into a permanent board room seating about 60 people. Monday's meeting itself marked the first time the board met at that location.

The Nov. 9 agenda also included $75,000 in spending authority for life-safety improvements at 451 Commerce, including lobby renovations, walls, doors and a public service window to improve building security. Staff said architects and engineers for both the Commerce Street and police department facilities were expected to present agreements at the Nov. 23 board meeting.

The board also moved to create two new positions at the request of Police Chief Marc Loftus. One converts the department's part-time records coordinator into a full-time Deputy Village Clerk focused on processing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests village-wide. The village's FOIA requests have exceeded 700 so far in 2026, up from fewer than 200 six years ago, and police department requests alone rose 77% in two years, according to the board packet.

The second new position adds a patrol officer. Staff said the hire would reduce overtime, improve shift coverage during absences and support what the department described as a longer-term goal of increasing minimum shift staffing. Both positions were described as fundable through the sales tax increase without negative long-term budget impact.

In other action, the board approved an ordinance denying a zoning text amendment that would have exempted pergolas, arbors and gazebos from the village's accessory structure regulations. Nick Esposito, who has an office in Burr Ridge, had requested the change. The Plan Commission voted 7-0 on Oct. 5 to recommend denial, saying the amendment could open the door for large unregulated structures. Community Development Director Janine Farrell said the commission recommended a broader review of accessory structure rules during the 2027 annual zoning review.

The board also approved a new $5,000 fee for property owners who seek a zoning variation after construction has already begun without a permit. The fee is non-refundable even if the request is withdrawn or denied.

The next Burr Ridge Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for Nov. 23 at 6:30 p.m.