Des Plaines council completes 2012 budget review
Des Plaines city officials Wednesday night agreed to hiring a new business development coordinator, granting $35,000 to the Des Plaines History Center, and spending $100,000 on downtown facade and awning rehabilitation.
The expenditures are part of the nearly $114.8 million proposed total budget for 2012, which includes roughly $57 million in general fund expenditures.
City officials hashed out their concerns with the budget over three meetings. The city council will give its final approval by resolution at its Nov. 21 meeting.
Much of the discussion Wednesday night focused on hiring a development coordinator to help the city’s community and economic development department boost business retention in downtown, and throughout the city.
The budgeted amount for the position is $99,000, including salary and benefits 50 percent of which will be paid out of downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District No. 1, 25 percent out of TIF No. 4, and another 25 percent coming out of the general fund.
Some aldermen favored hiring a contractor for the job over a full-time employee.
“We don’t have to have another employee here, which we tried twice before and it didn’t work,” 4th Ward Alderman Dick Sayad said. “I think we have to go to a company, get someone who is an expert in the field.”
Sayad said the city also should use local resources such as the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce and Industry to help connect with businesses.
“The chamber is a valuable tool out there and we should be tapping into it,” he said.
Ward 6 Alderman Mark Walsten said while there have been some failures in the past, the right person in the job will help bring in economic development.
Acting City Manager Jason Slowinski said while a full-time employee will help reach out to local businesses, the city could still hire a firm to attract national retailers down the road.
“I think it can be accomplished both ways,” he said.
Other highlights of the 2012 budget are a 0 percent increase to the property tax levy over the previous year’s levy for the second year in a row, a reduction in the city’s debt load — down from $70 million to $63.5 million — and a projected general fund balance of 34 percent of operating expenses at the end of the 2012 fiscal year.
However, despite the 0 percent increase to the tax levy, many residents’ property taxes may still go up because overall property values in the city have declined. Foreclosures and successful property tax appeals granted by the Cook County Board of Review also may increase individual taxpayers’ bills.
For the first time in three years, the city won’t be laying off employees.
Des Plaines laid off 12 employees in 2009, cut 38 employee positions through layoffs, attrition and early retirement incentives in 2010, and eliminated four administrative positions this year.
The 2012 budget includes a $50,000 allocation for home generator rebates, $200,000 to replace hot water pipes at city hall, funding for city staff to attend conferences, and paying out $12.7 million in casino revenues to meet the city’s obligations in 2012.
Other projects proposed for next year are a communitywide survey to get feedback from residents about city services, a complete rewrite of the city code, and a remodel of the downtown Metra train station at a cost not to exceed $500,000.