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Public invited to chime in Saturday on Elgin budget

The Elgin City Council will hold a hearing Saturday morning to give the public a chance to comment on the proposed 2014 budget.

Elgin Mayor David Kaptain said he hopes residents will show up armed with constructive ideas.

“Hopefully they will talk about funding issues that they think are important, things that they think need to be funded, things we’re not doing that they think we should be doing,” he said.

“I hope it’s more than just for people to be critical.”

The meeting is 9 a.m. to noon in the Heritage Ballroom of The Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way.

Elgin’s proposed 2014 budget, at $279.6 million, represents a 0.7 percent increase over last year’s.

It includes a decrease in property taxes for the third year in a row, and a 3.5 percent increase in garbage fees. City officials said they’ll calculate the average property tax savings in the coming weeks.

The city council, however, will examine the results of a recent stormwater management study in a two-part presentation Wednesday and Nov. 20, and could decide to make budget changes based on that.

City council members also will meet Wednesday at 5 p.m. at city hall, 150 Dexter Court, to discuss the city’s general fund, Riverboat fund and Central Area Tax-Increment Financing District.

They will meet again at 6 p.m. Nov. 20 to discuss the utility fund, the parks and recreation fund and user fees. They will also hear a presentation about a recent study of Elgin’s stormwater management needs.

If needed, additional budget discussions will take place Dec. 4, before a truth-in-taxation hearing at 7 p.m.

The public will have a final chance to sound off on the proposed budget at 7 p.m. Dec. 18, just before the city council is expected to adopt the budget due to Kane County on Dec. 21. The city’s fiscal year starts Jan. 1.

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