Mount Prospect to talk budget tonight
Mount Prospect residents will have yet another opportunity tonight to weigh in on the village's proposed 2011 budget and recommended staff cuts.
The village administration has proposed eliminating 34 employee positions next year through retirement incentives and layoffs, to plug an anticipated $3 million general fund deficit in 2011.
Without the proposed cuts the deficit is projected to be $4 million in 2012. With cuts, the village projects a $1 million deficit next year.
The village has 321 employees, most represented by one of five labor unions. The proposed staff cuts represent a roughly 10 percent reduction in the village's work force.
Public safety is the area hardest hit by the proposed staffing cuts as police and fire make up 64 percent of next year's $40.6 million operating budget, Finance Director Dave Erb said.
Officials are proposing eliminating six police patrol officers, seven community service officers, and five part-time crossing guards effectively ending the village's traffic unit, crime prevention unit and school crossing guard program by Dec. 30.
Nine firefighter/paramedics, a fire protection engineer, and a part-time emergency management coordinator position also are proposed to be cut, reducing the department's current full-time minimum staffing for daily shifts from 18 to 15 firefighters.
However, 13 village employees elected for the retirement incentive, helping avoid laying off any firefighters or patrol officers, Mount Prospect Village Manager Michael Janonis said.
The retirements essentially saved the jobs of employees with the least seniority who would have been first to go per union contracts, Janonis said.
“There will still be layoffs in community service officers,” Janonis said. “The board has said from the beginning public safety was a priority.”
Residents voiced their concern over the proposed public safety cuts through e-mails and comments at a recent budget discussion.
“I'm going to hold you to your promise that public safety is the first to get refunded,” said Tom Kanelos, a volunteer firefighter who lives in town.
Village officials have assured that the cuts won't affect emergency response times.
Employees taking voluntary retirement, which will take effect within 30 days, get free health insurance coverage for two years under the village's plan, something currently not afforded to retirees. That's a cost of roughly $650 monthly per employee.
“If you are on fixed income or whatever and you have to pay that premium, that could be quite a drain ... 24 months of health insurance is pretty significant,” Janonis said. “The village will in effect absorb the employee's share of the premium contribution. We've got some reserves in our risk management fund.”
Layoffs may still be unavoidable in other village departments.
Tonight's village board Committee of the Whole meeting, starting 7 p.m. at village hall, 50 S. Emerson St., will focus on the public works budget. That department is set to lose three full-time staff positions and a number of part-time and seasonal help in the streets and maintenance, forestry and grounds and engineering divisions.
Those reductions will be achieved through not filling vacant positions, 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.
Ÿ Daily Herald correspondent Joel Ebert contributed to this report.