Prospect Heights finance committee forming

Two Prospect Heights aldermen and one citizen will form the Prospect Heights City Council's new finance committee, which will oversee the city budget and review purchases.

Prospect Heights aldermen voted 4-1 Monday to create the new committee. The choice of the two aldermen and one citizen, who will be selected by Mayor Pat Ludvigsen and approved by the village board, is expected in the next two weeks.

Citizens who are interested should apply at City Hall or call (847) 398-6070.

Alderman John Styler was the lone vote in opposition, saying it amounted to micromanaging the city finances.

"I am against it completely," Styler said.

Alderman Richard Hamen, on the other hand, said the panel will take some of the burden off the city's staff. As well, he said, it will bring some transparency to city government.

One of the main goals of the committee will be to help the entire council understand the city's financial state, so aldermen can discuss it with citizens who have questions. The committee could also help with long-range financial planning, officials said.

As originally proposed, the committee would have included a city staff financial expert. Ludvigsen, who did not get a vote as he is the mayor and acts as tie breaker, backed that proposal and said the finance director could answer questions and bring expertise to the meetings.

The idea was voted down after Alderman Dolly Vole argued that the city would have to pay for the finance director's presence at the meetings and she would prefer to keep costs down.

The committee will operate like the city's other subcommittees, including the water and human relations committee, which report to the council on a regular basis.