Wheaton facing "gut wrenching" budget cuts

Almost daily, staff at the Center for History in Wheaton field calls from someone in town about the current sesquicentennial celebration.

There are books to produce, events to plan, historical facts to dig out of the archives.

All of those tasks will get a lot more difficult in 2009. Wheaton city council members have decided to cut the $225,000 in funding the city gives to the center to operate each year. Last year, that represented about a third of the center's total budget before they cut costs to help pay bills.

Where that leaves the center next year is unclear.

"I think all of the (center's) board was stunned," Alberta Adamson, president of the Center for History. "We don't know what will happen.

"This just doesn't seem fair," she added.

Council members are looking at a plan to trim more than $3 million from next year's budget to cover a shortfall between revenues and expenses that's estimated to be roughly $4.3 million.

Part of that plan includes cutting staff. At a workshop Monday night, the council agreed not to replace employees who have either left or are leaving their jobs. Additionally, they'll cut six seasonal workers from the budget of the public works department.

Those actions are expected to trim the budget by $544,600.

Mayor Mike Gresk said, though, that the personnel cuts will continue.

"It's truly gut wrenching but I believe it won't get any easier," he said.

Gresk was one of three people on the council who voted against eliminating all funding for the history services. He supported reducing the allocation.

The council also agreed to cut funding for fine and cultural arts, $10,000; alleys, $175,000; downstate lobbyist, $36,000; and vehicle replacement, $29,500.

They plan to keep the Fourth of July fireworks, $30,000; senior meals, $20,000; the municipal band, $110,000; and the Christmas lights, $15,000.

Council members still must take a final vote on the reductions. Discussions are expected to continue later this month.