Antioch looks at revised, more expensive budget

After delaying passage of Antioch's 2010 budget because the new mayor thought it was too costly, the village board is now considering a revised draft that is more expensive than the original.

However, Mayor Larry Hanson said he's pleased with the new version because Village Administrator Jim Keim discovered gaps in the spending plan that may have led to deficits.

Keim presented details of the proposed $11.1 million budget during a meeting Tuesday.

A $10.8 million budget was originally passed by the board under former mayor Dorothy Larson, but was rescinded by Hanson shortly after he was sworn in last month.

Keim said he identified $600,221 in cost reductions, but found "holes in the budget" requiring $848,437 in additional expenditures not covered in the original plan. Those costs included an underestimated price for electric rates and a need to increase attorney fees based on last year's numbers. The new plan also calls for hiring seasonal employees in public works.

"If we went ahead with the original budget, we would have had a huge deficit," Hanson said Wednesday.

The original budget called for a 3.5 percent raise for nonunion employees. But Keim discovered that document included an additional 2 percent merit increase. That would mean some village employees could receive a 5.5 percent raise.

The new budget proposal calls for an immediate 1 percent raise for nonunion employees, and an additional 2 percent increase based on individual performance, Keim explained.

Trustee Scott Pierce who has questioned Hanson's decision to rescind the original budget, said he's glad Keim spotted holes, but is disappointed the bottom line is higher.

"If I were writing the headline on this story it would say, 'Higher budget, new hires,'" Pierce said Wednesday. "I'm glad the employee raise is intact. But this thing still has to play out. We haven't had much time to review the details."

The village also stands to receive $850,000 in capital funds from the state once its budget is passed in Springfield. Hanson said that number is being factored in now. It wasn't included in the original budget since the amount had not yet been finalized by the state.

"That's another good reason we waited and took a closer look," he said.

Keim told trustees Tuesday the revised budget is one the village can be comfortable with "and one this community can afford."

"This is a lean budget. We've worked very hard to get to this point," he said.

The budget will come up for a vote during the next village board meeting June 15.