Mt. Propsect OKs spending more on litigation, roads

Mount Prospect village board members last week amended the 2013 budget for the third time this year to reflect extraordinary or unanticipated changes that amounted to $57,500 in revenues and $437,928 in expenditures. Prior amendments took place in March and in June.

On the revenue side, the adjustments cover the budget for federal Community Development Block Grant funds the village receives.

The expenditures include more than $200,000 for the general fund, with $150,000 for legal counsel, mainly to cover expenses related to litigation between the village and the owner of Ye Olde Town Inn, 18 W. Busse Ave. Ye Olde Town Inn owner Tod Curtis has filed a civil suit against the village charging Mount Prospect has conspired to force him out of business. The total legal budget for the year comes to $800,000.

Among the items that stand out on the expenditure side are $159,000 in the capital improvement fund for the Kensington Road improvements, bringing the total village budget for this year for that project to $420,000. The village has a 10 percent share in the cost of the project.

The village finance director told the board the village has reserves it can use to cover the extra expenses.