Village
Government
The Village of Wilmette Finance Department is responsible for the receipt and disbursement of all Village Funds and the accounting thereof.
Financial Administration
Anyone wishing to obtain financial information or information concerning the Village's budget can contact the Finance Director at 847-853-7599. Any questions or concerns pertaining to banking or investment matters should also be directed to the Finance Director. Payroll and employee benefits are administered internally and any questions or concerns in this area can be directed to the Assistant Finance Director at 847-853-7602.
Procurements & Accounts Payable
Routine purchases are handled individually by each department in the Village. A vendor wishing to know the status of an invoice may contact Accounts Payable in the Finance Department at 847-853-7603.
Water and Sewer Billing
Wilmette property owners are billed for their water and sewer usage on a quarterly basis at the following rates: Water: $2.01 per 100 cubic feet Sewer: $2.64 per 100 cubic feet. For billing purposes, the Village is divided into 12 cycles and four cycles are billed each month (each cycle has its own unique billing period). Any questions or concerns related to billing matters should be directed to the Water Billing Clerk in the Finance Department, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at 847-853-7620.
Someone selling their home should schedule a final meter reading through the Finance Department at the aforementioned number. Similarly, new home owners should contact water billing to establish the new account in the proper name (see also REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX). Tenants who are responsible for their water bills should follow similar procedures. Note - all landlords should notify the water billing clerk if a particular property is being leased so that we can apprise them, as well as the tenant, of any issues pertaining to their account.
Water Meters
Most properties in Wilmette have a remote reading device attached to their indoor water meter. Most bills are prepared from the remote reading that is taken each quarter. These remote devices are subject to the elements and have a tendency to slow down or completely stop metering. In all instances where a remote reading differs from an inside reading, the inside reading is considered the accurate measure of consumption. It is each customer's responsibility to check for differences between inside and outside meter readings. For any questions or concerns related to water meters (i.e. a leaking meter, a difference between their inside and outside meter, unusual noises, etc.) or pertaining to water quality, the water customer should contact the Wilmette Water Plant directly at 847-853-7535.
Real Estate Transfer Tax
In September, 1988, the Board of Trustees adopted Ordinance No. 88-0-27 providing for a Real Estate Transfer Tax for the Village of Wilmette. When a real estate property is sold in Wilmette, a tax equal to $3.00 for every $1,000 (or fraction thereof) of consideration must be paid. This is the responsibility of the property buyer. For example a property which is sold for $410,750 must pay a real estate transfer tax of $1,233.00 (this is calculated as $411 x $3.00). For assistance calculating the transfer tax due, a transfer tax calculator is provided.
Before the buyer is allowed to purchase their transfer tax stamps, the final water & sewer bill for that property must be paid in full (this is the seller's responsibility). Any other outstanding amounts owed to the Village (miscellaneous accounts receivable, unpaid parking tickets, etc.) must also be paid in full. Property owners should contact the Finance Department to schedule the final meter reading (see water & sewer billing). Final reads are conducted on an as needed basis and should be scheduled two weeks prior to the required read date. Transfer tax stamps should be in hand at the time of your closing. Please visit the Forms/Documents page to download a Real Estate Transfer Tax Form.