Algonquin lays out budget plans

A mixed bag of cuts, doing without certain things and part-time staff reductions will help Algonquin pass a balanced budget, officials said Tuesday.

Tuesday night, the village unveiled its proposed 2010-11 fiscal year budget for the general fund, which covers salaries, public works, the police department, supplies, maintenance and capital expenditures.

The draft spending plan of $17,675,000 is 6 percent smaller than the one for the previous fiscal year, due to declining sales and income tax revenues, said Village Manager William Ganek.

Despite the downturn, officials say they will not make residents pay for the slump in the form of higher taxes and fees, Ganek said.

"We do not, as the village of Algonquin, want to add to the tax burden," Ganek said. "We want to hold the line."

But to achieve a balanced budget that allows Algonquin to save money in case state income tax payments - already four months behind - don't come through, staff recommends the following:

• Reducing part-time and seasonal staff; limiting overtime; leaving vacant positions empty. (That includes slots for a patrol officer and assistant village manager); decreasing travel, training and dues; holding off on all capital purchases; reducing police uniform and ammunition spending; outsourcing the senior bus program; seeing to it that employees who take village vehicles home reimburse fuel costs; hiring its own instructors to teach classes, rather than paying a contractor for the same service.

"We're trying to turn over every stone to make ends meet," Ganek said. "Everybody agreed that we really need to be in on this together."

That staff was able to come up with a balanced budget without resorting to even more pain is quite an accomplishment, said Trustee Jim Steigert.

"You did this without raising taxes and without letting one of our most valuable resources go," Steigert told Ganek. "And that is our people."

The board is expected to vote on the budget in April.

The new fiscal year begins May 1.