Elgin officials get first look at 2011 budget

Elgin council leaders got their first glimpse of the city's 2011 budget this week, a $274.5 million spending plan that does not include any layoffs or sales property tax hikes for the coming year.

City leaders will dig deeper into the plan at a special meeting at 5 p.m. Nov. 10 at city hall, 150 Dexter Court, to review the several funds: the general fund, recreation, central area tax increment financing district, along with water and sewer budgets.

The proposed budget for next year will spend about 1 percent less than the $277.1 million included in the spending plan for 2010.

Since 2008, the city has eliminated 80 positions through layoffs, early retirement, attrition or reassignments.

City Manager Sean Stegall has said the budget does not include any layoffs, nor does it include hikes in the property tax rate or sales taxes.

Instead, the city is working to form more public-private partnerships and use technology more to become more efficient.

To help make up for sagging receipts in sales tax and a dip in the city's share of the state's income tax, the city has doubled fines for tows and violating the car stereo ordinance to $500 and next year will be prosecuting driving under the influence arrests through the city's adjudication court instead of Kane or Cook county circuit courts.

The move, Stegall said, is estimated bring in $250,000 more in fines collected by the city.

“Most cities are afraid to admit they're issuing fines to raise money. We're not,” Stegall said. “The people say put the burden on the people committing crimes. We're trying to be as aggressive with that as possible. That's a policy statement made by the council, and it's a reflection of what the community wants.”

The budget is due for adoption on Dec. 15. The document can be viewed on a new website il-elginbudget.civicplus.com/index.aspx.

The council also has budget workshop scheduled for 5 p.m. Nov. 17 where it will look at riverboat spending, user fees and other nonmajor funds.