Tough decisions loom ahead for Elgin's 2010 budget

If Elgin's budget talks are a dance - as some city leaders have suggested - then the time is now to size up potential partners.

And at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, those at the hall will find out who is in step with them.

"Next Wednesday is a big night," said Councilman Robert Gilliam.

Elgin leaders sifted through their $277 million spending plan for 2010 for about three hours but made no major decisions and offered scattered input.

The city will spend about 6 percent, or $20 million, less next year than it did in 2009.

The city has had three rounds of layoffs, early retirement and attrition to bring down payroll costs.

Cuts continued across the board, including spending $850,000 less next year on downtown sidewalk snow removal, the weeklong spring clean up trash amnesty in the spring, and less programming for the Hemmens Cultural Center.

Mayor Ed Schock and City Manager Sean Stegall also have said the city needs to cut some $1.4 million from the fire department's budget.

The city and fire union have only met once and city leaders have pledged to cut costs and not increase taxes. All city departments have seen cutbacks, including the police department, which has numerous unfilled patrol officer positions.

One saving grace in the budget, at least for animal lovers, is that the elk, bison and deer at the Lords Park Zoo will remain there next year. Community members rallied a few months ago to save the larger animals at the free zoo after the city eliminated the petting zoo component at Lords Park for the summer to save money.

The smaller animals will not return in 2010, but Stegall said he recently met with the Friends of the Lords Park Zoo group, which wants to focus on improvements that can be made to the park, museum and zoo as a whole in coming years.

Elgin: Nov. 18 to reveal decisions