Rolling Meadows still facing budget crunch

Rolling Meadows city officials were a tough crowd for the city's public works director Tuesday.

Rolling Meadows Public Works Director Fred Vogt was tasked with justifying numerous 2011 proposed public works budget items, and with an ordinance for the board to approve a $1.5 million short-term loan looming overhead, it seemed that anything with an increase from the 2009 budget was called into question.

With the support of several public works employees in attendance, Vogt explained the need for several building and structure improvements and repairs, money for roof patching and request for the purchase of a refuse truck whose purchase has been delayed, among several other items. In what seemed to sum up the evening's conversations, Vogt said of the building and structure costs, “The needs are still there, the money is not.”

The city's library director reported that with a five percent reduction in staffing, the library will be able to lower its portion of the property tax levy.

Rolling Meadows Library Director David Ruff said due to a reduction in staffing, materials and services, the library is still able to reduce its levy without reducing the hours it's open to the public.

The proposed 2011 library budget is $123,000 less than the 2010 budget. Ruff speculated that perhaps due to the economy visits to the library are up, along with an increase in job search information requests.

Several board members commended Ruff on finding innovative ways to reduce costs, such as staff using foldable tables until they were able to buy needed furniture from a secondhand furniture store, which was a reduction from the original plan to buy new furniture.

The library will also be replacing about half the computers they normally do. Ruff thanked the board for their compliments, but gave credit to the staff and library board.

Despite coming up with alternatives, the library has no money in its capital reserve fund, in which they would like to have $50,000 in case emergency fixes are needed, Ruff noted.

The council will be presented with a final draft of the city's budget on November 2.