Job cuts loom as Des Plaines narrowly approves budget
The Des Plaines City Council approved a budget this week that eliminates about a dozen jobs - after hours of discussion with union representatives, four tie votes and two executive sessions.
Mayor Tony Arredia provided the tiebreaking vote to pass the $120.8 million budget after the failure of numerous motions to delay action while union proposals to cut costs in other ways were examined in more detail.
"We do not need any more time to do that," City Manager Jason Bajor said.
He said that while he appreciated the union proposals and a number of them had merit and deserved further investigation, they wouldn't change the outlook enough to eliminate the need to lay off employees.
He said the city's financial problems are severe enough that any savings from the union proposals should be used to strengthen the general fund. The general fund surplus for emergencies, such as a flood or further deterioration in revenues with a slowing economy, is about a third of what it should be, he said.
"We're looking at right-sizing city operations," Bajor said. "We're looking at (cutting) a million dollars in recurring salaries and benefits."
The representatives for the two unions suffering layoffs, Paul Berner, a plumbing inspector, and Phil Schloss, a truck driver, submitted a list of potential cost savings to the city. Their ideas included doing more to collect $300,000 in unpaid housing court fines from the last two years; adding a fee for failed inspections and missed inspection appointments to raise $75,000; and saving $95,000 through revised purchasing practices.
"I think it's the wrong thing to do to let go of any employees," Berner said. "We can ride this out."
"We're looking at the possibility of people being laid off right about Christmas," Schloss added.
Voting for the budget were 2nd Ward Alderman Martin Moylan, 3rd Ward Alderman Laura Murphy, 6th Ward Alderman Mark Walsten and 7th Ward Alderman Don Smith.
Voting against were 1st Ward Alderman Patricia Beauvais, 4th Ward Alderman Jean Higgason, 5th Ward Alderman Carla Brookman and 8th Ward Alderman Rosemary Argus.
Aldermen voting for the budget said residents are opposed to tax increases at a time when many are having trouble making ends meet.
Most aldermen voting against the budget said that by firing employees, the city was just adding to the unemployment problem and that every effort should be made to cut other costs to save jobs.
Argus, though, favored a budget that included a 0 percent tax increase. The budget includes a 1 percent increase to fund pensions, down from an initial staff proposal for a 6 percent increase.
"The taxpayers want us to bail them out," Argus said.