Antioch mayor candidates examine finances

Local governments are under the same financial pressures as everyone else in this current recession. Money from sales and property taxes are down along with lower income from permits, fees and other taxes.

The Village of Antioch has been struggling to balance the books in recent months.

Seven part-time and two full-time employees were laid off last August in a cost-cutting move.

As the April 7 election draws closer, mayoral candidates Bob Caulfield, Larry Hanson, Kris Murphy and Erik Peters each have ideas on how to bolster the village's finances even though there's no end in sight for the current downturn.

Applying things he's learned while running a photography business, Caulfield, currently a village trustee, said he would focus on efficiencies before resorting to a tax hike or more layoffs.

"Antioch has had its greatest revenue raised in the last four years," he said. "Our finances have been declining because of mismanagement from the top. There are ways to streamline village functions and be more efficient and less wasteful. I would focus on that first before raising taxes or cutting jobs."

Hanson is a current trustee and has been on the board since 1989. He says it's time to look at overtime hours for village employees.

"Our focus must be on limiting overtime and limiting the number of seasonal workers where possible," he said. "Those are the real budget killers."

In addition to that, Hanson said he would work to reduce fuel and electricity expenses and possibly revise employee health insurance programs to get lower rates.

A certified public accountant, Murphy says she would suggest selling village-owned property that "is not earning one red cent."

In addition, Murphy, a write-in candidate, said there might be room to cut administrative costs.

"Without seeing this year's budget, I'm not sure where the cuts would come from. But from my experience it's usually in personnel and administrative areas," she said.

Peters, an 18-year-old Antioch Community High School student also running as a write-in, believes an attractive town will attract people and new business. He said Antioch needs to work on its image.

"By cleaning our parks and turning the Chain O' Lakes into an experience for everyone and not just for bar-hoppers and sportsmen. people will come to our town and take advantage of what we have to offer," he said. "We need all hands on deck and it will take the whole community's efforts to bring income to our town."