Park Forest officials say the continued requirement for vehicle stickers is essential to funding local street maintenance, even as some neighboring communities have discontinued similar programs.
Finance Director Mark Pries reported that the sale of vehicle stickers brings in about $290,000 each year. This revenue is used exclusively for maintaining village streets. “Vehicle sticker revenues directly fund street maintenance work,” Pries said.
The annual budget for street maintenance in Park Forest is around $800,000. Approximately $500,000 comes from the property tax levy, while the remainder is covered by funds from vehicle sticker sales. Without this income, officials would need to find another way to generate nearly $300,000 annually to keep service levels unchanged.
Some residents have questioned why Park Forest still requires stickers when other nearby towns do not. In response, Pries explained that those municipalities must still pay for their road programs but use different sources of revenue. “Typically, when a surrounding community gets rid of vehicle stickers, the revenue lost from that is either added to the tax levy or comes from a new source of revenue,” he said. “Normally, a different source of revenue replaces the need to sell vehicle stickers.”
Pries emphasized that eliminating the sticker program does not remove the cost of maintaining streets; it only changes how those costs are met.
Village ordinance requires residents who operate vehicles in Park Forest to purchase and display a valid sticker each year. Officials state that this approach ensures people using local roads help pay for their upkeep.
Leaders in Park Forest describe the sticker program as a user-based funding model designed to preserve neighborhood streets without placing all responsibility on property taxes alone.
As sales begin March 1 for 2026–27 vehicle stickers, officials reiterated that the program remains important for keeping roads maintained each year.
The Village of Park Forest promotes community health and engagement through dedicated commissions and programs according to its official website. The community has also been recognized for its sustainability efforts in town planning and practices (source). The Village aims to improve economic conditions and deliver municipal services through collaboration and innovation (source). Its government operates under a council-manager system with a mayor and six trustees (source). Park Forest demonstrates leadership in sustainability by supporting national climate protection agreements (source) and provides educational opportunities like its Civic Leadership Academy (source).
