Elgin cuts to hit agencies, museum

Remember this summer when Elgin area service agencies rallied against millions of dollars of funding cuts by Springfield lawmakers?

Elgin's 2010 budget - which council members are debating now, along with forecasts for 2011 and beyond - has some of the same types of agencies taking hits in their funding from the city.

Although the cuts - precipitated by a sharp drop in casino receipts - won't have the scope of those made in Springfield, area groups are bracing for the worst.

The Elgin Public Museum has already reduced its staff as city funding has declined.

For 2010, the city has allocated $53,620 to the museum, but in 2011 that drops to $37,530 - less than half the $76,000 provided by the city in 2008.

"We used to get $100,000 (a year) from the city. We've been going down the last six to seven years," said Margaret "Peggie" Stromberg, museum executive director, who was disappointed but not necessarily surprised to see the latest possible cuts.

She said the museum also has been hurt by school districts that have canceled field trips. In the future, the museum will do more fundraising as it has taken $16,000 out of its reserves to make ends meet in 2009.

"All of us in the city have to work together and make the most of a bad situation. It's not only us being cut," Stromberg said. "I don't think the city has any plans to close the museum. It's been here since the 1890s."

The list of agencies, groups and programs that will see a drop in funding in 2011 as well are: the Community Crisis Toy Giveaway; Neighborhood Housing Services; PADS of Elgin; Renz Addiction Center; Senior Services; the Elgin Community Network; Elgin Symphony Orchestra; Hamilton Wings; the Children's Theatre of Elgin; PACE's Ride in Kane program; and youth sports grants.

Elgin expects to collect $19.5 million from the casino in 2010.

The Grand Victoria is still the top-grossing casino in the state, but the officials expect their share to fall to $13.75 million in 2012 when the new Des Plaines casino is expected to open.

To compare, city leaders took in more than $28 million from the casino in 2008.

The prospect of casino proceeds dropping 50 percent in a four-year span has some council members like John Prigge wanting a greater accounting of how community groups spend city money.

"I would like to be convinced that every one we're funding is doing something to raise its own funds," he said.

The city council will resume talks on its $277 million budget at 5 p.m. Wednesday at city hall, 150 Dexter Court.