Police overtime, Easter egg hunt cut from Antioch budget

Police overtime and the village's annual Easter egg parade and hunt are among the spending cuts Antioch officials are making in response to an anticipated budget shortfall caused by the cost of ambulance service.

The moves were approved by the village board this month and announced Monday by Village Administrator Jim Keim.

They come after voters on Nov. 4 rejected a referendum to increase property taxes to cover ambulance service. That made for a projected $750,0000 annual deficit in the village budget.

According to Keim, spending on road improvements, water and sewer work, and vehicles and equipment did not take place this year because the money was needed instead to fund the village's portion of the ambulance service.

"This practice cannot continue into our future or our roads, utility lines and equipment will deteriorate rapidly," Keim said in a statement.

Other approved budget cuts will eliminate staff training, reduce senior services and close fire station No. 3 on Grass Lake Road.

Additional reductions, such as the elimination of Thursday concerts, movies in the park, and fireworks, could be made when the village board meets Jan. 19.

Ambulance service for fire or rescue calls in the Antioch area since 1938 had been provided by the Antioch Rescue Squad, a nonprofit group funded by fees and donations. That changed in May when the fire protection district of Antioch did not renew the group's contract and decided to consolidate operations in the village and township under the Antioch Fire Department.

In November, voters in Antioch and Antioch Township rejected a referendum that would have raised $1.5 million a year to pay for the ambulance services.

The village and fire district in separate actions have authorized trying the referendum again on the April 7 ballot.