Naperville looks for ways to handle budget crunch

Early in this election campaign, I posted a quote by French impressionist Henri Matisse on the frame of my computer monitor.

"What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter - a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue."

Since the last city council meeting, I've been deluged with e-mails from arts advocates, stirring up interest regarding the Special Events and Cultural Amenities (SECA) Fund, urging me to contact my city councilmen.

I did.

And l concluded that all this consternation about Naperville's food and beverage tax is not my cup of tea.

But then, my parents, both from large families, grew up during the Great Depression. Always saving and resourceful, no one in my family took much for granted, aware of the great divide between wants and needs.

After serving the Navy in World War II, my dad went to Purdue and he married my mother during his senior year. Upon graduation, he landed a job at the Muncie Trade School in Muncie, Ind., and later opened a general construction business.

We lived about two miles from Ball State University where we took advantage of many cultural offerings, including live theater, concerts, foreign language classes and art galleries. My folks always provided my two younger brothers and me with the tools to be innovative and productive. To this day, my dad, now 85, enjoys working a good deal.

In my youth, my mother marched me into the local savings and loan every couple of weeks with my bank book. I enjoyed watching my balance and the interest grow via my moneymaking endeavors.

Every autumn, I earned cash raking leaves for our neighbor. My dad paid me 50 cents to fill bushels with walnuts.

Occasionally, I wrote a one-page neighborhood rag called "The Rolling Oaks News" and sold copies door to door for a penny.

Other times, I charged admission to my theater productions featuring neighborhood kids, staged behind the curtain I rigged up in the "unfinished" side of our basement.

As I typed that last paragraph, I flashed back to drama classes at Irene Belcher's Children's Playhouse. Mrs. B. taught us about producing, directing, acting and just about everything that goes on behind the scenes in the theater, including that producers must have permission to stage copyrighted plays.

In fact, to avoid paying royalties one time in junior high school, I rewrote a popular story line and titled it "Snow Drop and the Seven Little Men."

Putting on plays also taught me the value of the audience - a good-sized audience at that.

Our family lived by the adage that "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is."

We were conservative.

Budget crunch

A week ago, Naperville Finance Director Doug Kreiger addressed the Legislative Committee of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce at the Holiday Inn Select.

Noting a $5 million-plus shortfall in sales revenues as our community heads into the next fiscal year, Kreiger said he welcomed suggestions from the community on how to cut costs to resolve the deficit.

He also provided an overview of the city's revenue stream, anticipating more of a slowdown before a turnaround.

Kreiger is a fine communicator, but his Power Point presentation didn't paint a pretty picture of the city's financial status.

As I was walking out of the lunch meeting, someone behind me quipped, "It's only $5 million."

I was tempted to turn around to match the face with the voice. But I kept walking.

Council workshop

The Naperville City Council will hold a financial update workshop beginning at 4:30 p.m. today, Oct. 21, in Lower Level Meeting Rooms B and C of the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.

The regularly scheduled council meeting starts at 7 p.m.

Throughout the budget season, council workshops address more in-depth discussion for policymaking. While these workshops usually don't have a public forum, they are open to the public.

Workshops can be more enlightening than regular council meetings. I've always wished they were televised, too.

My point is to urge residents to pay attention to all the events in our city. Be part of the audience when you can.

Stephanie Penick writes about Naperville. Contact her at spennydh@aol.com.