Aurora may need more volunteers as it readies budget

Aurora volunteers have already stepped in to ensure the economy didn't prevent Santa from making his annual trip to Phillips Park and as they unveiled the city's 2010 budget proposal, city officials warned it won't be the last time volunteers are called upon in the coming year.

The 2010 proposal, with an estimated $349.6 million in expenditures, shows the sign of the times in a nearly $64 million decrease in spending from 2009. About half of that decreased amount is attributed to the completion of the new police department headquarters on Indian Trail Road while the remaining $32 million in decreased spending has come from departmental budgets across the city and is likely to affect primarily nonessential services.

Finance Director Brian Caputo said the process, which began with the recognition of a $19 million deficit earlier this year, has been a difficult one with the city's five major revenue sources down a total of $10 million from 2008 actual totals.

"Obviously it has not been an easy process, but it's painful for the entire city because we're trying to find ways to maintain these city services with far fewer resources," Caputo said. "And I think we've done the best we can to do that. Not every project can be funded right now, but we tried to set priorities of those that are most needed now and funded those."

Deputy Chief of Staff Carie Anne Ergo pointed to the city's Public Art Commission and summer music festivals as areas that will see noticeable cutbacks next year. This year, last week's Holiday Magic Celebration saw its budget cut from about $43,000 to $10,000 with the elimination of the parade and fireworks.

Santa's Station at Phillips Park is one event that was initially cut and later saved by volunteers.

"The friends of Phillips Park have stepped in on a volunteer basis to make sure Santa could come this year," Ergo said. "In a lot of these areas, we're hoping volunteers will continue to step up to make some of these traditions a reality."

Personnel expenses, which account for about 82 percent of the city's proposed $143 million general fund budget, are also a source of savings as 80 employees have left the city through voluntary and involuntary layoffs in recent months.

"We saw significant reductions in building and community development and engineering staff, but the reality is we just don't have as much going on in the city in terms of redevelopment," Ergo said.

"The goal of this budget is to ensure people continue to receive their basic services at an exceptional level without spending more money," Ergo said.

Caputo said he expects the city council to approve the final version of the budget at it's Dec. 22 meeting.