News flash: The buses are in the black.
This one was held after the regular council meeting, which went longer than council had hoped for due to the ATI issue. This week the topics were all the funds in the budget besides the General Fund.
The Taxi Coupon Program brought out seniors from a couple of the senior residences to ask that the program not be eliminated or changed drastically because they were on fixed budgets and the taxi coupons were their lifeline to groceries and doctors offices.
Some of the comments generated some laughter from the audience. I don’t think the seniors came in with accurate information, but at least one made the point that 60 $1 coupons in many months (down from 100 $1 coupons) would not be enough to get them around, especially in months they were receiving medical treatment.
Tim Meaney, recently appointed to the Human Services Commission, observed that everyone effected by the proposed cuts is aware that something has to be done and is willing to accept that cuts are necessary, but are asking that some funds be made available so they can hang on until better times.
Here’s the shocker of the meeting: The buses won’t be a deficit item. With the new buses and personnel changes, expenses have declined and the buses are now operating in the black.
Staff will probably still move forward to shift costs of the entire system over to PACE (the Highland Park solution). Commissioner Sean Durkin asked again for a marketing plan for the buses. Commissioner Bob Barnett said something, the mayor asked him to speak up, then Barnett’s mic went completely dead. Mayor Sandack correctly pointed out that the negative balance in the shuttle fund is on paper only and is not really there.
The TIF Funds are what they are. The CBD TIF District is a mess, the Ogden Avenue TIF is clean.
Fleet Services Fund attracted some council comments, in particular regarding vehicle replacements and the fueling facility, and whether the whole maintenance operation could be bid out to save money. Several commissioners also commented on vehicle replacements. The village pre-funds most vehicle replacement, but may lease a new FD ladder truck.
The Health Insurance Fund has several changes to help reduce costs to the village without hugely increasing what employees will pay. Risk Management Fund, Pensions Funds, Tax Rebate Fund, Real Estate Fund, all pretty much are what they are.
The next budget meeting is a Saturday morning “Coffee with the Council” at 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 17 at Fire Station 2.
Buses in the black?? Man I hope folks much smarter than I in accounting practices review that one.. If it is true, good job.
The buses in the black is only on paper too!
It was news to me. I have to assume those conditions last only so long as there are warranties covering the shuttles that negate any repair work. Both Fieldman and Baker are pretty sharp numbers guys, and Judy Buttney (Director of Finance) has done a much better job than her predecessors.
Pay actually NO ATTENTION TO THE PREVIOUS DEFICITS of the buses currently accrued on the books…That was someone else’s bad decision,,,
There is stil a $1.5 million defict in the bus account. They are NOT in the black. They are still bleeding!
JJ48, on Tuesday night all seven elected officials acknowledged that the past deficit was just an accounting artifact, and the Village does not have any actual debt owing in that account. It can be wiped out with simple accounting adjustments.
It remains to be seen what the current and future years operating balance will be, just the Manager’s projection that it will be positive. Given these facts, IMHO it’s a gross overstatement to say, “they are still bleeding!”
I disagree John. Read the Auditors letter. The auditor states that there is a deficit in this account and the only way to make it positive is by putting money into the account. Why has the Village stopped making fund transfers to this account to make it positive? Schnel and Waldack state that the Village use to do this but stopped under BK terms. Read the Council minutes.
Not an accountant myself. Are you, JJ48?
If you think your elected officials are incorrect in their statements on Tuesday night, you should correct them — and us.
I am just a driver who turns left
ENRON wiped out a whole company with accounting adjustments. That is not the way to fix deficits.