Quinn's plan could cost Hoffman Estates $4.4 million

Hoffman Estates officials expressed frustration Monday over Gov. Pat Quinn's plan to withhold about $100 million statewide from local municipalities.

The proposal would take $4.4 million away from Hoffman Estates, or 10 percent of the annual budget, Village Manager James Norris said at Monday's village board meeting. Much of those cuts come from the portion of state income taxes shared with local governments.

Mayor William McLeod and Norris have made three recent trips to Springfield and hope legislators there understand the village already has made deep cuts.

Withholding more money isn't fair, McLeod said.

“We've already done the pain,” he said. “I've had to layoff police officers.”

The village has reduced employees by 18 percent, or about 60 employees since 2008, Norris said. That includes buyouts, like the one Police Chief Clinton Herdegen took last year when he left the department, leaving positions open when an employee leaves and layoffs.

The village laid off four police officers last year after asking police, fire and public works to trim their budgets to fill a $1.8 million shortfall. The fire and public works unions made cuts to avoid layoffs.

Norris outlined other reductions the village officials have made, including cutting the amount of road work improvements in half and lowering the capital project budget by $4.5 million.

Meanwhile, Springfield Republicans have their own proposal, which would take away $1 million from the village.

“Neither is good,” Norris said, comparing Quinn's plan to the GOP's. “Obviously the lesser is always better.”

Last week, a memo revealed Quinn would forgo withholding funds from municipalities only if lawmakers approve a plan allowing the state to borrow $4.5 billion. Quinn said the money would be used to pay late bills. Lawmakers have repeatedly balked at that plan in recent months.