In 2010, the CPI was 219.179.  In 2024, the CPI was at 315.605.  The Park District estimates that expenses have increased by 44% over the last 14 years.  Also included in the last 14 years the Park District has opened new facilities, acquired new real estate property and substantially increased programming, events, and memberships, all of which is open and available to residents of Oak Brook.  

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Oak Brook population in 2010 was 7,883 and as of July 1, 2023, the resident population in Oak Brook is 8,049.

Each year, thousands of Illinois park district commissioners and staff attend the Illinois Association of Park Districts/Illinois Park and Recreation Association Conference in Chicago. The conference conducts more than 165 educational sessions and hosts over 325 exhibits. The educational sessions provide information on legal changes, risk management and best practices in the fields of recreational programming, public employment, public finance, real estate and development, construction, Open Meetings Act/Freedom of Information Act, sustainability, and public private partnerships among others. Some staff and Commissioners do stay overnight depending on their schedule at conference.  Many conference sessions start as early as 8:30am, and board and staff members also attend committee meetings, and annual business meetings, which often are not completed until 8pm.  The Park District Staff and Commissioners typically stay at the discounted conference-recommended hotel.  

The Park District’s programming includes Travel Club, with many participants. The Travel Club takes many trips including those referenced above. This past year the group traveled to the Canadian Rockies and Maine for the Fall Colors, and Italy in April!  A staff member takes a group to these destinations. Staff travel expenses are paid for by the travel participants from program fees, not from taxes. The Canadian Rockies trip realized a net profit of $7,770.  Staff also take tennis teams to Indiana, Florida, and South Carolina. Program fees also pay the staff expenses on these trips. The last three National Conferences were in Phoenix, Dallas, and Atlanta where the Park District was a Gold Medal Finalist and staff presented sessions.  The flights to these conferences were paid for through points on Park District’s purchase cards.    

Commissioners do not give out memberships.  They do give out guest passes to promote the Park District.  No state laws are being broken as the lifetime membership is a de minimis expense to the Park District.  

Most of the “fine dining” receipts are from our senior paid programming.  As District stewards, we attempt to do this programming locally, therefore, many receipts are from local Oak Brook establishments which are paid for by the senior program participants.  

An Oak Brook resident who is In-District pays 8.46% of their total property tax bill to the Oak Brook Park District. Thirty-one (31) percent of the Park District Tax Levy is paid for by corporations, roughly $1.7M. Forty percent of the Park District’s revenue comes from property taxes.  Forty-seven percent of the Park District revenues comes from “Charges for Services and Programs”.  Any “Out of District” patrons pay at least 25% more in fees for programming and 20% more in a membership.  The only exception to this rule is for Senior Programming as we try to keep all fees at the minimum.  Most tax levy expenditures go to our beautiful parks, repairs and maintenance, and administrative services.  

The Park District had community input meetings on August 8, 2024 and August 19, 2024 to gather community input for the playground and outdoor tennis project.  The District also had the preschoolers vote on the playground equipment! The community wanted to upgrade the outdoor tennis courts, increase outdoor pickleball and update two playgrounds as they have all outlived their useful life. Three million dollars of this project will be funded by the Tennis Center, which operates without the use of any taxpayer revenue.  In 2024, grants were applied for but not successfully obtained, so this project is on hold until alternate funding can be secured.  

Each Staff member and Commissioner are allotted meal expenses at conferences for the day.  If a person is at conference, for part of the day, then the allocation is adjusted.  If the meal reimbursement is $75.00 per day, and a staff member is only coming for the morning until after lunch, it would only be $40.00 for meal reimbursement.  Therefore, if a staff member chooses to use all $75.00 for one meal if they attended the entire day, it is permissible.  This documentation is all tracked through our travel expense forms.  If for some reason, the amount goes over the daily meal expenses, the staff member or the Commissioner would reimburse the Park District.  To date, this has not happened. Moreover, the tip is not included in the meal reimbursement policy.