Des Plaines History Center renews quest for city funding - but less

In a last-ditch effort to preserve its future the Des Plaines Historical Society has renewed its request for funding from the city, asking for $124,500 yearly, a 25 percent reduction from what it received last year.

Earlier this month, city administrators recommended axing the historical society's $166,000 funding request entirely from the proposed 2010 budget as part of cuts to plug a $3.6 million shortfall in its general fund for operations.

The $124,500 is "something that we thought that we could survive on," Historical Society President John Burke said.

The city council will debate the new request Thursday, Oct. 29, at the final meeting in a series of budget hearings. It begins at 6:30 p.m. at city hall, 1420 Miner St.

The city's contribution amounts to more than two-thirds of the History Center's outside revenue, which helps pay for four full-time and three part-time employees. The society receives about $73,000 a year from the Des Plaines Park District, and more than $45,000 is collected through fundraising efforts and membership dues.

That money pays for the maintenance and operation of three historic buildings owned by the society - the History Center, The Kinder House and The Fisher-Wright House.

Burke said the society will more aggressively pursue other sources of funding such as grants and corporate memberships, step up fundraising efforts, ask the park district to chip in more money, and increase membership dues and other fees to make up for the cutback from the city.

"We have a very loyal core of members," he said. "The members are primarily responsible for most of the fundraising success we've had last year.

Over the next three or four years, he said, the society wants to further reduce its dependence on the city subsidy and wean itself by finding alternate outside sources of funding.

"I think everybody is convinced that the financial crisis that the city and other cities are facing isn't going to be over next year or the year after that," Burke added.

City officials are contemplating property tax and fee hikes, layoffs and early retirements to plug an overall budget deficit of $5.2 million and to build up a dwindling fund balance of $2.4 million.

Other programs targeted for cuts include $10,000 for an after-school program and slashing the Special Events Commission's yearly allocation to $16,000, or just enough to cover the Fourth of July fireworks.

City council members will consider the historical society's new business plan, which they requested, before making the final decision Thursday.