BLUFORD — One local village is one of a very few communities in the state that can call themselves completely debt free. Bluford mayor Mike Bullard says the community went from scrapping for each last penny 40 years ago to now building a cash reserve for the future betterment of the community.

Bullard says being debt free is a win for the village and also its taxpayers.

Bullard says outgoing Governor Bruce Rauner even came to a Bluford village board meeting to congratulate and recognize the work community leaders had done to make Bluford debt free.