DGreport.com

A packed house.

This eighth budget meeting was the first of nine meetings that will actually lead to a real budget.  All of the programs that have had cuts proposed for them were lined up to be discussed.  Mayor Sandack took a straw vote to see where the big turnouts were for what issue, and took the big ones first.  He stressed more than once that the village simply does not have enough money for business as usual, and a couple times asked residents up commenting if they had any ideas where to find the money.  The question was not asked in a argumentative way, it sounded like he really hoped someone had an AHA! idea.

Village Manager Dave Fieldman and Mike Baker made presentations as the three hour meeting wound on, then the floor was opened to comments and input from residents, then council.  Fieldman was cautious to note that the proposed budget was just that; a proposed budget.  Sandack reiterated before resident comments began; any budget changes are proposals at this point, nothing is etched in stone, nothing is a done deal, but they have to do something.  Noting the tenor and mindset of a typical DG’er, simply enacting a massive tax increase is not an option.

Personnel expenses are the killer.  Inexorable increases have been somewhat controlled through attrition, a hiring freeze, and an early separation program started this year.  He detailed the types and amounts of cuts made and to be made, and broke out how much of a Real Estate Tax increase would help balance the books.

Bottom line, even with all the cuts, RE taxes on a home with a market value of about $300,000 would see their village portion of the bill go up $50.

Although it was presented as one of two possible scenarios, it’s the DARE Program in schools that is under the knife.  Dropping the two lowest ranking police officers would save $130,000.  Many residents complimented the program, including Sandack.  Some parents suggested maybe the PTA might be able to help.  Some parents reported their kids insisted Mom or Dad go speak in favor of DARE.  Several students made the best case for keeping DARE alive for it’s drug education. “We can learn from trying it or the other way (DARE)” was one comment by a student.  Others pointed out they learn to trust police, like the two officers, and listen to them better than their parents.  Another teacher pointed out if she did DARE training it’s just another subject in a long day, when the DARE officers come in it gets kids attention.

Municipalities across the country are axing their DARE programs. If axed, DARE would continue through the current school year, and staff will try and figure out how to deal with it, yeah or nay, for next school year.

Several residents spoke about more robust police enforcement of existing traffic laws, generating more tickets for violations.

Resident Dave Humphreys and several others also spoke to the need to keep the Community Grants Program and support for the arts going, even if at a much lower level.  Humphreys has won awards for his volunteerism in nurturing and nursing a variety of programs, and he was very quick to spread those accolades around, noting the village support and the resident support are what make cultural events possible.  He also noted that events and groups that contribute to our quality of life here in DG also add to our desirability as a place to live and help our property values.

One of the programs supported by Community Grants Program is the DuPage Senior Citizen Grant (DSCC), which is also the Meals on Wheels program.   The Choral Society, the Midwest Ballet, the Senior Orchestra all rely on Community grants for a portion of their operating funds.

The village staff had already done a study on how they might tighten up the taxi coupon program for seniors, and that may have accounted for no residents speaking for or against the program.

Community Events focused in on Heritage Fest.  Elimination of the holiday tree lighting ceremony or decoration program had no objectors, but some did speak that the Ice Festival in February is a welcome break from the winter doldrums, and brings a big local crowd out to the downtown.  Several resident volunteers for the HF Car Show (not the Friday night car shows) spoke that they add no cost to the event, but draw people, and volunteer run that.  DGreport regular Chad Walz asked about, and suggested pursuing larger corporate sponsors to offset costs.  At this point it appears this department will face cuts.

Counseling and Social Services will likely get budget cuts.  There are mixed reports nation-wide about the value of social programs and family counseling as provided by municipalities.  On the minus side it is a service that is duplicated somewhat at the county level and by other social services groups.  On the plus side it may be acting as the “ounce of prevention” that keeps our Police Department from being tied up making domestic trouble calls later as “a pound of cure”.

When the Revenue portion of the meeting shifted to Council comments, Commissioner Marilyn Schnell said she was dead set against raising Real Estate Taxes, but would not be opposed to looking at Red Light Cameras as a revenue source.  The county may be getting henky about municipalities putting cameras at “their” intersections, so stay tuned on that one.  Sandack is opposed to RLC for a variety of reasons.

Bruce Beckman disagreed with RLC, but favored a 1% restaurant tax on food and beverage.  As a consumption based tax, he rhetorically asked if an additional 27 cents would cause him to skip a $27 meal downtown with his better half.  Although Naperville has a 1.5% tax that hasn’t slowed down their dining, according to Sandack they are looking at substituting additional Home Rule Sales Tax instead, to get around the administrative costs of the restaurant tax.

Bob Barnett made the point that “for a sense of magnitude, we’re still spending $1 million we don’t have.  He did not, however, break out any homework from the “Barnett Challenge” he spoke about at council a couple weeks ago.  That may still be in the works, or much of it might already be in discussion.

Sean Durkin brought up vehicle stickers, which would capture revenue from renters as well as property owners with vehicles.

Sandack in his sum up closing thanked everyone for attending, and noted council and staff had also received many emails.  He said “We (council and staff) have a responsibility to our village.  This will be real difficult.  Please continue to participate.”

The next budget meeting is after the Tuesday October 6th Council Meeting.  On Saturday October 17, starting at 9:00am at Fire Station 2 (Main Street & 55th) is the first marathon workshop.  Those are usually all day events.

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