Geneva closer to final budget plan

No Segway for the police department and cross off the Cultural Arts Commission’s $5,000 allotment.

At least that’s what the Geneva City Council committee of the whole said Monday night won’t make the budget shortlist during several hours of discussion on the city’s general fund, electrical, water, wastewater and capital funds budget, proposed at $14.66 million.

Overall, that portion of the budget is 7.2 percent lower than what it estimates actual expenses for the 2010-11 fiscal year will turn out to be. The fiscal year ends April 30.

The city budget is actually a compilation of 37 budgets, including 20 miscellaneous funds such as Illinois Municipal Retirement and cemetery. The miscellaneous funds budgets were recommended last week.

The council did not vote on the overall budget Monday night. It will publish the budget April 1 and have a public hearing on the budget April 18, followed by a council vote.

Overall, it looks like the city will propose spending $71.46 million, while receiving $71.24 million.

The Segway would have been used for patrolling the downtown area. Police estimated they could have saved $6,000 on gasoline costs by using the electric-powered vehicle. They had hoped to get a grant to pay for half the cost of the device, estimated to cost $7,000.

Aldermen decided the Cultural Arts Commission had enough money left in its fund that it could live without the annual $5,000 deposit.

The proposed budget includes replacing a fire engine, building part of the delayed North Central recreation trail in the center of town, water system improvements for customers on a stretch of First Street and finishing reconstruction of the Manchester Course alley.