Divided council approves Rolling Meadows budget
The Rolling Meadows City Council was set last week to reject the proposed 2012 budget until one alderman had a last-minute change of mind and backed the spending plan that had been the source of months of heated debate.
After four aldermen initially voted against the budget, Mayor Tom Rooney paused council proceedings and asked if they were certain of their decision.
“Are folks entirely sure that whatever parts of this budget they don’t happen to personally agree with are worth rejecting the entire budget?” Rooney asked.
After another pause Alderman John D’Astice, who at first voted against the plan, changed to a “yes” vote.
Despite passage of the budget, Rooney expressed unhappiness with the process.
“I’m disappointed in the lack of teamwork, the lack of ‘We’re all in this together’ that’s reflected in such a divided vote,” he said. “I’m disappointed in the way that vote took place.”
After the budget was approved, aldermen continued talks on the tax levy, which at times this fall was projected to rise 18 percent, and more recently suggested to go up 15 percent by city staff.
Alderman Robert Banger said he is less concerned with the tax levy and more so with rebuilding the city’s reserves. At the end of 2010 the city only had $237,725 in the general fund balance, according to city documents.
“We’re very poor as a city, I’m still fine with 15 percent,” Banger said. “Having only days worth of reserves is laughable, especially in this state.”
Other aldermen, however, sought a smaller increase and, after a few amendments to move money from various parts of the budget, ultimately approved an 11.7 percent, or $1.2 million, hike. With the increase the city will levy about $11.5 million next year.
The vote to approve the increased tax levy again was split 4-3.
The proposed budget projects $513,592 in reserves by the end of 2012, but those numbers will change when the official budget numbers are finalized near the end of the year, said Melissa Gallagher, assistant finance director for the city.