Struggle begins to cut 2012 Kane budget
A battle over what Kane County’s budget must look like in order to cut local tax property tax bills may result in a plan that leaves the county little room to stay out of the red in 2012.
Early versions of the county’s 2012 budget show fewer expenses than the current year. But some board members are now pointing to an increase in the county’s main operating fund of around 3 percent as the exact wrong message to send to taxpayers in the current economy.
Board Member Mike Donahue said Tuesday an overall smaller budget is meaningless if it doesn’t result in at least a flat, if not lower, tax bill for county residents.
To achieve that, Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay suggested a plan Wednesday that eliminates most of the county’s contingency funds to cause a drop in the county’s operations levy. McConnaughay’s plan would leave the county with $700,000 to stay out of the red in 2012. She said any “true emergencies” can be funded by the county’s cash reserves, which are not included in the county’s annual budget.
“By lowering the county’s contingency, you are saying you’re going to take a much more thorough look at any ‘emergency,’ McConnaughay said.
McConnaughay said the county can slash the contingency funds because the costs that typically tap into the those funds every year have been accounted for in department budgets. Those costs are usually money spent to house inmates outside the county when the jail is full, cash for interpreters, expert witnesses and translators for the court system and rising fuel costs.
McConnaughay’s plan still leaves the county about $300,000 short of having a flat operating budget compared to 2011. Part of that is because she added about $51,000 of expenses back into the budget for lobbyists, an expense the original 2012 budget slashed.McConnaughay said state lawmakers are trying to shift numerous expenses from the state budget over to local governments. The county can#146;t afford to not have daily, direct access to the top lawmakers to dissuade them from that path, she said. #147;But if you#146;re in Springfield, will we still need a lobbyist?#148; asked Finance Committee Chairman Jim Mitchell in reference to McConnaughay#146;s run for state senate.#147;You probably do,#148; she replied. #147;Unless I can get into the speaker#146;s office or the senate president#146;s office it#146;s going to be very difficult.#148;Where the $300,000 of additional cuts comes from will be the battle moving forward. Board Member Cathy Hurlbut is pushing for departments to spend down reserves in so-called #147;special funds.#148; Such funds are unique to departments that charge a fee for services provided. #147;We#146;re sitting here looking at pools of money that should be properly used so the taxpayers aren#146;t paying more money,#148; Hurlbut said.Treasurer David Rickert controls one of the special funds that will be examined. He challenged Hurlbut to include special funds in the circuit clerk#146;s office in her examination. Hurlbut is running to be the new circuit clerk.#147;We should look at all funds,#148; Rickert said. #147;It#146;s very frustrating that employees in my office haven#146;t had a raise since 2008, but there are 10- to 15-percent raises in other departments.#148;The comment was a shot at McConnaughay, who has overseen promotions that have fueled salary increases in recent years for several department heads who report to her. Mitchell squelched further discussion on that topic. His committee will hold a special meeting next week to discuss ways to cut the operating budget by another $300,000.Mitchell said the good news is the 2012 budget is on a path to be both honest about expenses and keep county taxes down for property owners.#147;This is the first time since I#146;ve been on the county board that we have a budget that will lower tax bills,#148; Mitchell said. #147;And what citizens are concerned about right now are their tax bills.#148;