Community Survey Results

Click here to view the Community Survey Results and read below for a message from the Mayor and from Whitehouse Village Council.

I want to thank everyone who participated in the Community Survey from June to November. Your input is crucial for the Council, Village Administration, and me in making informed decisions for our community.

We all face challenges, particularly with rising costs. The Village is no exception, but I am proud of our dedicated staff who continue to deliver essential services. As your elected officials, our goal is to maintain these services despite these challenges. I encourage you to stay involved – learn about how the Village operates, attend council meetings, and understand the external pressures we face, such as rising costs from the EPA and other third parties.

As your mayor, I am committed to working with the Council to act on the survey results, seek economic development, and explore alternative funding to improve life in Whitehouse while minimizing the impact on residents.

Sincerely,

Mayor Richard Bingham

Dear Residents,

Thank you for taking the time to participate in the Community Survey. Your feedback is truly appreciated and will help guide us as we work to improve the quality of life for all those who live and work in our village. We are pleased to share that, overall, more than 90% of respondents indicated that they are satisfied or very satisfied with living and/or working in Whitehouse. And overall perceptions of Village services, especially fire and police, were overwhelmingly positive.

That said … there is work to be done. Key messages from the survey included concerns about fiscal management, interest in appropriate community and economic development, and improved communications with residents. The members of the village Council take this input very seriously. We would like to share some actions we’ve already taken or plan to take in the coming year.

Work Accomplished in 2024:

• Village Finances: We created a clear budget summary that is now reported routinely to ensure transparency in how taxpayer money is spent. We also reduced the 2025 proposed budget by $160,000, to align with revenue.
• Planning and Economic Development: Significant progress has been made in aligning village development efforts with our long-term Master Plan to ensure we’re building sustainably and strategically. We’ve retained an expert consultant to work with Council to create an economic development plan for the village, including targeted grant funding approaches.
• Communication: Increased adoption and use of the Access Whitehouse app improved communication and provided easier access to village services and information. We’re also considering charter changes to more routinely bring new ideas to the Council and to help ensure village government operates smoothly.

Priorities for the Year Ahead:

• Village Finances: We remain focused on increasing transparency in finances including publishing clear budget summaries online. We’re additionally working to improve the financial planning process for 2026 and moving forward.
• Planning and Economic Development: We are working to attract new businesses consistent with the character of the village. Additionally, we’re working to improve walkability for recreation and safe access to schools.
• Communication: We’re discussing publishing a newsletter or similar regular communication to highlight village plans, activities, and accomplishments. We’re also considering another (shorter) survey to capture resident sentiment.

Thank you again for your participation, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts! Together, we can continue making our village a place to be proud of.

Sincerely,
Village Council

For information on how to contact your elected officials, click here for Whitehouse Village Council and click here for Whitehouse Mayor Richard Bingham.