How does a municipality accumulate surplus revenue?

Because all residents and businesses in cities, towns and villages have much at stake in budget decisions public budget processes must be open and transparent. Over time, municipalities like Niles have been able to accumulate surplus funds, also  known as rainy day funds, amounting to millions of dollars.

In terms of transparency I'm sure that tax payers would be interested in the sources of these funds. Hopefully they were not generated by over taxing people or businesses, or by not meeting obligations thus leaving certain programs underfunded.

These funds are, without question, the peoples' money and subject to the same scrutiny and inquiry as regular budget processes. I for one would consider it grossly unethical to budget revenue for programs and then not use the revenue as originally intended but instead designate it as surplus funds. An investigation into underfunded programs could reveal such activity.