Geneva reconsiders affordable housing

As Geneva city staffers begin making the 2009-10 budget, some of the things the city wants to do may get shoved to the future.

Alderman Ron Singer hopes the establishment of a housing commission to study providing affordable housing in Geneva isn't one of them. That's why he recently voted against accepting the summary report of the city council's annual strategic plan review workshop, conducted in November.

The city's strategic plan, which guides decision-making through 2017, calls for the commission to be in place by April 2009.

But the rough economy is affecting the city's wallet. Sales tax revenues are down, by 9 percent in September alone. Utility disconnections, for those who are more than two months behind paying their bill and haven't made a payment arrangement, are up 18 percent this year. The finance director expects the city may have to dip into its reserve funds to pay for some capital projects and operating expenses this budget year. City department heads have been told not to add new expenses midyear without taking out something else.

The fire department is putting off work, again, to remove corrosion from one of its engines, and replacement of a failing substandard rear driveway at Station 2.

"Perhaps the most important word (in this document) is 'prioritize,'" Mayor Kevin Burns told the city council.

"As you all know from this year... our projections for the next two to three years out are lower than what we would normally project. It is likely that some of these projects we won't be able to do because there are price tags attached to them," City Administrator Mary McKittrick said.

"I just want to express my concerns and sorrow that we didn't take into consideration the creation of a housing commission," said Singer, who is especially concerned about affordable housing for senior citizens.

McKittrick said some projects that may not cost actual dollars, but staff time, could end up back in the budget, and establishing the commission could be one of them.

Alderman Bob Piper disagreed. "When we say it is not a dollar investment, but hours, that is a cost. I don't know that we have staff that has time to develop a housing commission. I'm concerned about spreading Mr. Untch (community development director) and everybody very, very thin."

Alderman Craig Maladra agreed with him, citing the maxim that time is money.

"We sit here every week and some members of this council go 'Cut here, cut there. Save a penny here, save a penny there.' We went to a meeting where we were going to set goals under a very tight budget. Some things don't make it when you have a fixed budget. This one didn't make it," he said.