Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
More than $3.5 million in cuts are on the table; officials are considering even more. ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst is planning at least $3.6 million in budget cuts for next year – and possibly more. That works out to about 4.5 percent of the general fund budget. In early October, officials revealed the city would face a tough budget year, with spending reductions and tax hikes expected. Several factors are playing a role in the situation, including a $1 million jump in health insurance costs and a $600,000 increase in pension contributions. The proposed spending cuts cover a range of services. The biggest would be deferring $1.4 million in roadwork. At 1:30 p.m. Monday, the City Council's finance committee plans to meet to discuss further cuts. The meeting's timing is a break from tradition for the council and its four committees. For years, they have virtually always met on Mondays. At Monday's council meeting, Alderwoman Noel Talluto, who heads the committee, announced the coming session, saying the members were "very nice" on agreeing to Friday. The other members are aldermen James Nudera, Jacob Hill and Dan Virgil. Next Monday night, the full council is expected to vote on the budget, including the cuts. In December, it is set to decide on the annual property tax levy. Under state law, the city's deadline for posting an agenda for Friday's meeting is 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, 48 hours in advance. As of Wednesday morning, it had not yet appeared. One budget reduction under consideration won't happen, Mayor Scott Levin said at Monday's meeting. The $30,000 cut in question targets the city's senior and disabled taxi subsidy program, which an alderman criticized at a meeting last week. Levin said a "clear consensus" existed to keep that money for the program. That was made possible because the city's general liability insurance costs were less than budgeted, according to the city. As for Monday's meeting, Talluto told her colleagues that everyone was welcome. It is open to the public. The mayor joked, "There will be a light lunch. I guess there won't be this time. Got cut out of the budget." Here are the proposed budget cuts included in a city memo:
