Carpentersville in black despite economy

These may be uncertain economic times but Carpentersville's financial situation remains stable

due to the village staff's readiness to make significant adjustments and sacrifices, Village President Bill Sarto said in his State of the Village address Tuesday.

"(The village manager) and our department heads continue to prove they are up to the task of maintaining our financial situation in these uncertain economic times," Sarto said. "They have presented the village board with a balanced budget without tax increases or layoffs."

Sarto highlighted several projects that had been completed since he took office in May 2005, including the rebuilding of Main Street Bridge, the streamlining of the village's development standards and an aggressive capital plan.

Though Sarto lauded the village staff and their accomplishments, the first-term village president also underscored the challenges facing residents.

Programs were scaled back or discontinued to reach a balanced budget; the high number of foreclosed homes stresses the village's ability to maintain empty houses and unemployment numbers also strain the local economy, Sarto said. But in his second address since he took office in 2005, Sarto said he is "optimistic."

"I am here tonight to give you the truth. Times are difficult," Sarto told the 10 audience members. "I am confident, however, that we will meet our obligations and responsibilities and that we will recover."

Resident Evelyn Fryer said the village's financial stability is encouraging given the economic hardships some neighboring towns are experiencing.

"I am rather pleased that at least the finances are in the black," Fryer said after the meeting. "I don't know if the village can continue with that, but compared to surrounding villages, we have done a pretty good job with that."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Related documents</h2> <ul class="morePdf"> <li><a href="/pdf/cvillesov310.doc">Carpentersville State of the Village Address </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>