Mount Prospect cuts to hit jobs
Mount Prospect village officials Tuesday night considered cutbacks to public works staffing and services during the last of three public hearings on the proposed 2011 budget.
The village administration has recommended eliminating 34 employee positions next year through retirement incentives and layoffs, to plug an anticipated $3 million general fund deficit in 2011.
The public works department's share of the deficit is $492,414, said Public Works Director Glen Andler.
The total proposed public works operating budget for the 2011 calendar year is little more than $24 million, a roughly 10 percent reduction over this year's budget.
As part of the cuts, the department will have to eliminate three full-time staff positions two maintenance employees and one administrative analyst as well as cut nine seasonal employees, saving roughly $233,973. The department also would eliminate its sidewalk cost-sharing program offered to residents, as well as new sidewalk construction in 2011, saving roughly $63,000.
Andler said the loss of two full-time maintenance workers would have the biggest impact on the village's snow removal services, which usually requires 52 employees to man two 12-hour shifts.
“We are going to be down to 44 employees (after the staffing cuts) to man that,” he said.
Four more maintenance employees are expected to retire within a week leaving the department with only 40 people on hand, Andler said.
The department may have to outsource some of the snow removal duties due to the staff shortage, Andler said.
Fortunately, the department's engineering staff and all public works superintendents have commercial driver's licenses, including Andler, so they also can help out in a pinch, he added.
“Our people are all cross-trained,” Andler said. “They are working in all divisions. We're going to do our best to keep up with the snow.” Though no programs are being eliminated entirely, a leaner public works department may result in fewer fire hydrants being replaced, and cutbacks in services such as tree trimming and replacement of diseased trees.
“We won't be planting any new parkway trees,” Andler said. “We are actually going to be back to the same (staffing) level we were 27 years ago.”
Resident Peggy O'Connor said if the village can't afford to replace diseased parkway trees, then perhaps residents could pitch in to help.
“The citizens of Mount Prospect can donate to the Tree Trust Foundation,” she said. “That's a way to replace the trees without putting the burden on the taxpayer and our village.”
A few community festivals also may not make the cut in next year's budget.
Village Manager Michael Janonis said city staff tried to avoid cutting community events “because of the value it brings to the community in terms of the cultural life.”
However, staff is recommending eliminating the winter festival parade and Blues Fest.
“I know for the last couple of years it's been a real challenge to attract artists (for Blues Fest),” Janonis said. “That runs the village roughly $35,000. It may be an unfortunate casualty of this budget cycle.”
The village will still have its customary Memorial Day parade, Fourth of July parade and carnival, downtown block party, French market in conjunction with the fall farmer's market, fall festival and Oktoberfest.
“I think it gives us some decent coverage across all the seasons and provides some fun and variety for the residents,” Janonis said.
The proposed 2011 calendar year budget calls for $82.6 million in expenditures, a 6.9 percent decrease from the amended 2010 budget.
No property tax rate increase is proposed in 2011.
Public hearings on the proposed 2011 budget and 2010 tax levy will be held Dec. 7 and Dec. 21 before the village board gives final approval.
Residents can e-mail questions to budget@mountprospect.org.