Aurora approves 2011 budget
Aurora aldermen approved the city's 2011 budget Tuesday night without any changes to the $366 million spending plan approved last week by aldermen on the finance committee.
The budget includes $135 million for the general fund, a decrease of about $8 million from last year's general fund, Finance Director Brian Caputo said.
Seven aldermen voted for the budget and four voted against it. Alderman John S. “Whitey” Peters was absent.
Aldermen who supported the budget said this spending plan is the best the city can do in tough financial times, even though it includes 30 fewer employees who took voluntary buyouts, eight fewer police officers who will be laid off Jan. 1, decreases in salaries and benefits for other employees and the disbanding of the office of special events.
“The aim was to again work the best we could at looking at the most lean budget possible for the circumstances we were in,” said Alderman Bob O'Connor, chairman of the finance committee. “It seems to hurt so much more at the local level because we see the consequences of what's involved so much closer.”
Alderman Scheketa Hart-Burns, one of four who voted against the budget, said her vote reflects her constituents' concerns that fewer police officers may lead to more gang violence. Alderman Stephanie Kifowit said she could not support a budget with fewer police officers.
Other aldermen who opposed the budget — Rick Lawrence and Richard Irvin — said the city needs to rethink its business model and reform the structure of its budget.
“As long as we focus on the government model, which is collecting taxes and paying bills, I don't think we're going to be successful,” Irvin said. “I think the answer is economic development.”
Aurora will levy $64.3 million in property taxes to support the budget, a decrease of $1.5 million from last year's tax levy. Homeowners will pay about $1.70 for every $100 of equalized assessed value of their properties, Caputo said.
“Our levy has gone down, our tax rate has gone down, we are doing the things that we need to do,” Mayor Tom Weisner said. “This is a responsible budget. The process of working toward sustainability is not one that happens overnight.”
As part of budget discussions Tuesday, aldermen also approved the Aurora Public Library's budget and the payment plan for all city employees who are not union members.
Nonunion employees will be required to take the equivalent of 10 unpaid furlough days in 2011 and will not receive any annual pay increases or step increases, Alisia Lewis, director of human resources, said. They also will have increased co-pays and deductibles for their health insurance.
Aurora's 2011 budget goes into effect Jan. 1.