Elgin council opens talks on budget cuts

It's time for Elgin leaders to roll up their sleeves and get to work on balancing their books for 2009.

Councilmen will take their first formal, public look today at what the city has to spend next year and what personnel and services it may have to scrap.

"(Today) will be the first grimaces you'll see on the council's face because the news isn't pretty," Mayor Ed Schock said. "The news isn't good, but the news could be a lot worse."

In any other year, city officials would hold a retreat and department heads would argue their cases for new employees, equipment or both.

"The budget this time is what do we cut," said Femi Folarin, Elgin city manager.

Folarin on Monday declined to specify a number, in millions, or a percentage, that needs to be cut from the 2009 budget.

City officials expect declines in key revenue sources such as sale tax receipts, the city's share of the state income tax, property taxes and fees.

Riverboat revenues also are down about $4 million this year. Those funds are used only for one-time capital projects, not salaries and benefits.

"It's not just a one-year thing," Schock said. "We have to look at 2010, 2011. If we don't make these adjustments now, those carry over into the next budget."

The council has until the end of the year to sign off on the 2009 budget. Folarin said he opposes across the board cuts from every department.

City officials want the police department to trim $2.5 million in costs, including $750,000 in overtime.

Police Chief Lisa Womack wants to move 13 officers from specialized patrol units such as gangs, major investigations and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, back to regular patrol shifts. The union has opposed this move.