Final village budget pared down, still has shortfall

April 23rd, 2010 • Related • Filed Under

by Martha Quetsch
ELBURN—Elburn officials approved a new village budget on Monday that has $900,000 less in expenses than last year’s budget. The achievement was possible through months of paring down costs wherever possible, they said.

The budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year, which starts May 1, includes expenses of $5.3 million, compared to budgeted expenses last year totaling $6.2 million.

Expected revenue is about $4.59 million this year, compared to budgeted revenue last year of $4.63 million.

The budget shortfall has occurred in recent years primarily because of a continuing decline in building permit fees (see chart below) due to the depressed housing market.

Among budget cuts that the Village Board made recently include eliminating a secretarial position that paid $42,000 annually. In addition, the village several months ago eliminated a part-time Police Department secretary position and reduced an administrative assistant’s hours.

Village President Dave Anderson said cost cutting will continue, even though the budget has been finalized.

“We’re looking at goals and objectives for all our departments this year to see how we can become even more efficient,” Anderson said.

The village will cover its budget shortfall with its reserve fund, which currently totals about $5 million.

Revenue from building permit fees has declined
2007-08 $147,721
2008-09 $59,445
2009-10 $30,000
2010-11 $21,000

  • RM

    If everyone else’s taxes went up as much as mine, the village won’t be struggling too much.

  • informed

    My portion of the Village tax went down from $520 to $450. The village’s share of my overall tax bill is about 4%. If they can keep cutting the budget and lowering my taxes, more power to them. Now the school board is a different story. They account for 67% of my tax bill and still can’t balance their budget.

  • RM

    My property taxes went up 17%. Apparently the value of my house went up by 7% while everyone elses went down.

  • elburn skeptic

    They have gutted the public works budget but have not touched a dime of the Police spending, ( nice landscaping at the shooting range ) where are the priorities ??

  • elburnlife

    The public works budget has by no means been gutted they have more employees now then they have ever had. I would not say thats gutted. I have heard very few ideas come from the supervisors during meetings. They always seem to look to the board to see how they want the job done. I dont want the board playing police chief, public works director or administrator. I do want them to appoint experienced supervisors that can come up with new ideas to cut costs well keeping the services we have. Compare our services with other communities such as the Tri cities and we are not getting much for are money.

  • informed

    Elburnlife – you make an interesting point/accusation that I think you should prove with facts. You say we get less services in Elburn for our money compared to the Tri-cities. What does that mean? Unless you can provide a dollar for dollar comparison of what we get compared to what the Tri-cities get based on tax revenues and poulation you are really aren’t saying anything. Perhaps you are planning to run for office and show us all the “right” way to do things?

  • elburnlife

    Informed- I was comparing my total tax bill and that was wrong. My point is that Elburn gets a very small portion of our tax bill that is why it is important that they make the most off it. When you hear some of the things that staff and the board worry about it makes you wonder. Maybe I will run for board. You should consider running informed. We had a good start with the last election.

  • elburn skeptic

    Every angry resident wants to get elected and change the world. Won’t happen, with bloated administration ( 123k / yr ) and incompetent supervision ( 78k / yr ) making bad decisions ( 3 of the 4 employees in the building dept. dumped in public works ) the mismanagement cost millions every year. Try as hard as you want you will never make a silk purse out of a sows ear.