Elgin trash fees to stay flat in 2015
Elgin residents won't see increases in refuse rates starting Jan. 1, contrary to what city officials had anticipated.
The Elgin City Council adopted its $290.5 million budget for 2015 on Wednesday night after about two months of discussion and staff presentations.
The refuse rate freeze, approved unanimously, was proposed by Councilman Terry Gavin. The city has a contract with Waste Management, whose costs it passes on directly to residents. Monthly rates will stay at $13.85 for single-family homes and $10.07 for condos, instead of increasing to $14.89 for single-family homes and $10.83 for condos.
The city will pay for the difference in the Waste Management contract - $541,940 - with money from reserves, Gavin said.
Earlier this month council members floated the notion of reducing water rates. However, that would have complicated negotiations over the sale of water to other communities, whose rates are dependent on Elgin's residential water rates, council members said.
The city sells water to Sleepy Hollow and Bartlett, and it is in negotiations with the latter to increase its sales volume.
Councilman Rich Dunne proposed using 80 percent of any additional water revenues to fund projects like the separation of storm and sanitary sewers, and the rest to lower water rates in Elgin.
Councilman Toby Shaw questioned $300,000 in city hall improvements - including additional security measures - in the 2015 budget. "I'm not a fan of it," he said.
Stegall pointed to recent courthouse shootings around the country. Elgin's city hall is home to a Kane County court branch.
"I feel an immense obligation to make recommendations to the city council that the employees be as protected and as safe as possible," he said.
Councilman John Prigge voted against approving city budgets for the last three years, but he gave his thumbs-up in the unanimous vote on Wednesday.
Still, the 2015 budget offers no real tax relief for residents, he said.
"Wear more clothes in winter, wear less clothes in summer and don't turn on your water so much," he said. "That's the only way you're going to get relief in the checks you write to the city of Elgin."
Councilwoman Carol Rauschenberger proposed looking at a reduction in municipal gas tax rates in the future.
Upon the advice of city staff members, the council also decided to reclassify as contingency money funds initially allocated to a bikeway project and $497,000 improvements to the Hemmens Cultural Center. That way, the money can be used for other projects if needed, Stegall said.
The plan for bike lanes connecting Metra's stations to areas south and west will likely be scrapped because of feasibility concerns. The city's cost would have been about $700,000 for the $3 million project.
As for the Hemmens, the council is expected to get input in the next couple of months from a task force that has been examining the future of the building, Stegall said.
Council members also directed the staff to perform an analysis in the first quarter of 2015 about issuing bonds for street projects, to take advantage of low oil prices and the city's low level of debt.