Pingree Grove cuts to the bone and it's still not enough

A series of dramatic cuts proposed in Pingree Grove, including staff layoffs, pay cuts, and public event cancellations still won't be enough to balance the budget, an official acknowledged Tuesday.

The village staff is recommending that the village board eliminate three positions, two in the building department and the lone staffer in the special events department.

All remaining employees, starting with the village manager, would take a 5-percent salary reduction.

"We're looking at different ways to cut costs, to reallocate resources to basically make the budget work," Village Manager Scott Hartman said.

As well, Hartman has agreed to take 13 unpaid days off in the next fiscal year that begins May 1 and board members have proposed attending six fewer board meetings.

Board members receive a $75 stipend per meeting; the idea is to eliminate meetings with light agendas to save money, Hartman said.

As far as events go, the craft show, six summer concerts at Centennial Park, a communitywide garage sale, a fall festival and tree-lighting ceremony are all but over.

But the village did spare the fireworks show - the village's most popular and expensive event at $16,000 - from the chopping block.

"I suppose it's a minor victory that we were able to save the fireworks, because they were going to cut everything," said Trustee Greg Marston, who opposed those reductions, saying the events help make Pingree Grove a community.

The village finds itself in a bind this year because developer fees and the lack of sales tax revenue are not enough to pay for the increased demand for services in the growing town, Village President Wyman "Clint" Carey said.

With a steep decline in building permits - just 82 this fiscal year, compared to 600 during the village's growth spurt - and the proposal to cut most special events, Hartman said employment in those departments was called into question.

"Based on low activity, does it make sense to maintain the level of staffing that's there or should that level of staffing be reduced?" Hartman said.

When all is said and done, these new cuts, in addition to others proposed last week that involve putting the deputy police chief back on patrol and eliminating nonessential training for staff, will save the village $284,899.

That means Pingree Grove is now $225,000 in the hole from $509,899 and is still looking at ways to close the gap, Hartman said. The board on Monday voted against raising its existing 1 percent telecommunications tax to 6 percent, which would have mean an additional $72,000 in annual revenue.

"I'm of the mindset that if you can't address the expense side, then I'm not interested in discussing tax increases," Marston said.

On April 5, the board will discuss adding a gas utility tax onto residents' Nicor bills - Pingree Grove does not currently collect this tax. As far as special events go, the board started a committee that will raise money to fund particular functions.

"We have disappointed residents, but the fact is, the economy calls for tough decisions and hopefully with this committee we can get some community involvement," Carey said.

The board will vote on the budget April 19.

The public will have an opportunity to comment on the $1.28 million spending plan before the vote.