Two objectors not enough to block Gurnee budget

Gurnee's new $47 million budget has gained final village board approval, but not without dissent from two trustees.

Trustees voted 4-2 at a meeting Monday in favor of the budget that begins May 1. The budget's proponents contended village government has been operating in a lean and efficient manner.

Trustees Kirk Morris and Greg Garner voted against adopting the new budget. Garner said he questions why the 2010-11 budget is about $1.3 million more than the previous year's spending plan.

Garner said a flat revenue projection was not a good enough reason to approve the increased budget. Gurnee's sales tax revenue has declined by nearly $2 million during the past two years.

"At the end of the day," he said, "if we gamble and lose, they (residents) pay. That ain't right."

Mayor Kristina Kovarik contends a solid $47 million budget was crafted that allows residents to continue receiving a high level of village services. She said the village still has options should money become a problem, such as employee furlough days or layoffs.

Kovarik said the village has not filled open positions or created new municipal jobs.

With Garner and Morris dissenting in March, trustees voted 4-2 in favor of hiking the tax on wireless and landline telephones from 1 percent to 6 percent to raise an extra $650,000 annually. It was part of an effort to stem a projected $1.1 million general fund deficit.

"I think the telecommunications tax was the least burdensome thing," Kovarik said. "Things will turn around."

On the up side, she said, Gurnee's annual rebates to two automobile dealerships will end this year. This year's budgeted amount for the Anthony Pontiac and Gurnee Dodge dealers is $94,000.

Gurnee plans to spend about $3.1 million for work on neighborhood sidewalks, streets, pedestrian trails and lighting. The village plans to send $130,000 to the Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau, a $35,000 reduction from last year's budgeted total.