Elgin task force discusses vehicle stickers, program cuts

Cutting grant programs and reintroducing vehicle stickers made the list of revisions to Elgin’s riverboat fund in discussion Tuesday by the city’s Budget Task Force.

The committee split into smaller groups for a line-by-line review of expenses borne by the fund, which comes from money collected from the Grand Victoria Casino.

Former councilman Thomas Sandor led one group’s discussion, recommending suspension of practically every single city-sponsored grant program.

“Obviously everything can come back,” Sandor said. “Those can be eliminated for one year, see what happens and bring them back possibly in 2013.”

The group also decided it didn’t seem right to fund the new sustainable communities initiative while suspending other long-term programs. That initiative would include implementation of components of the city’s recently adopted Sustainability Action Plan.

A group led by Pat Segel suggested decreasing the amounts of many expenses but completely eliminating funding for The Hemmens.

Charging for vehicle stickers potentially would bring a major cut to riverboat fund expenses. Elgin stopped charging residents vehicle sticker fees in favor of allocating money from the riverboat fund to the general fund, where the fees had been used. That decision costs the riverboat fund $1.7 million each year — an expense the task force thought could be eliminated.

“If you spread it out with all the people that would need a vehicle sticker, it’s a small amount for each person but a huge amount for the budget,” said Jen Carr.

The riverboat fund was originally intended to be used for capital projects, agency and organization funding, and one-time operating expenditures — an intent the task force generally thought should be maintained.

But task force members noted there is some deviation from those goals when various operating costs are funded by the riverboat. William Kelty said if that doesn’t change, the policy should be revised.

“If we have a practice, we should make sure the policy matches that,” Kelty said.

Staff members will combine the suggestions of each small group for a final wrap-up discussion concerning the riverboat at the task force’s next meeting, scheduled for Sept. 13. None of the discussion Tuesday reflects official recommendations from the wider committee.