No plan for layoffs in Streamwood budget

The proposed budget Streamwood trustees will vote on Thursday night is balanced and won't require the village to lay off any employees.

Village Manager Gary O'Rourke described the village's financial status as manageable, but noted that officials are leaving a handful of jobs vacant to help deal with the snarled economy.

“We've had no layoffs or furloughs,” he added.

The proposed 2011 Streamwood budget forecasts $48.8 million in revenues and $40.7 million in expenditures. In the general fund, projected revenues of $20.6 million barely outpace expenditures by few hundred thousand dollars.

Residents could see a bit of a tax hike as trustees look to increase the levy that pays for police and fire pensions. If actuarial reports show the village needs to increase its contributions to the pension fund, the levy would increase by $287,500, pending the board's approval on Thursday.

“With the downturn in the investment market. we are not at the 90 percent (of contributions) proposed by Springfield,” O'Rourke said. “But we're well above the minimum requirements.”

Instead of layoffs, the village is relying on retirements and attrition, as well as employees taking volunteer buyouts. But that might not be the case for long if the economy continues to struggle, O'Rourke said.

“I think today we're hoping the economy continues as it is,” he said. “If it continues to decline at the rate it has, we'll explore whatever alternatives we have before layoffs, furloughs or volunteer reductions in force.”

Police and fire staffing levels will remain about the same, and the departments will now share an information/technical officer. Still, the police department has seen its staffing shrink from 199 two years ago to 182 currently because of retirements and attrition.

Streamwood also is slowing replacement of police, fire and public works vehicles, though next year 18 will be replaced.

Residents can also expect to see fewer street improvements next year, as the village is proposing to transfer $1.1 million from its street improvement fund to its general fund to pay for other expenses. Still, $1.4 million in street improvements will be done next year, under the proposed budget.