THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2006
$46.8 Million Budget Faces Council Monday
By DWIGHT ESAU
Journal Reporter
Next Monday night, Apr. 17, the 2006-07 production of the Park Ridge city budget, which has spent most of the last year in the making, will be presented.
A public hearing on the recommended $46.8 million budget will be held in city hall, prior to the regular 7:30 p.m. city council meeting. Unless some unforeseen, last-minute changes are made to the document in the few days prior to this date, the budget is expected to be formally adopted by aldermen during the meeting.
The budget has been the subject of several public discussions in recent weeks, most of them focusing on new revenues that will be derived from increases in more than half-a-dozen taxes and fees, and a new sewer tax based on water usage.
The proposed budget is 1.8% less than the estimated actual 2005-06 budget, and projects revenues of $47.5 million compared to expenses of $46.8 million. This was made possible by the increases in existing taxes and fees, together with cuts in contributions to civic organizations and social agencies, a delay in implementing a new cart trash collection program, reduction in grounds maintenance activities, a small reduction in the taxi subsidy, and dropping a $2,500 contribution to the Youth-In-Action program.
Several months ago, City Mgr. Tim Schuenke predicted a deficit of around $1 million in the city's general operating fund if nothing was done regarding expense cuts or revenue enhancements. Now, his budget report to aldermen says the latest budget proposal forecasts a $693,000 surplus for all funds for 2006-07. "The city wishes to reverse the recent practice of experiencing deficits in the general operating fund," he said.
The city proposes to spend $33.6 million for ongoing operating expenses in 2006-07, nearly $4 million for debt service, $4.4 million for capital improvements, and $4.8 million for the public library, which includes $318,800 for capital improvements. The library is completing a comprehensive $2.5 million program of upgrades to its building and grounds that began two years ago.
Infrastructure improvements planned for the coming year include 2,570 feet of new water main, 50,000 square feet of new sidewalk, 2,720 feet of relief sewers, 8.3 miles of street resurfacing, and 2,940 feet of alley paving. All of this will cost about $4.4 million.
Capital projects for the coming year include $75,000 for reforestation, $510,400 for sewer rehabilitation, $89,700 for sewer lining, $107,500 for sidewalk replacement, $814,000 for street resurfacing, and $753,600 for water main replacement. The city also is contributing about $710,000 for replacement of computers, library technology, and motor equipment replacement.
Two small building upgrade projects are planned - $30,000 for replacement of pneumatic control panels regulating the HAVOC system of the library, and $39,000 for a new fire suppression system at station 36. Grants are expected to reduce these costs.
The city gets about 30% of its revenue from property taxes, about 40% from sales and utility taxes and fees, about 12% from water sales, and 8% from itsstate income tax share.