Evanston aldermen gave final approval Monday night to a 2016 budget that raises property taxes 1.8 percent.
That’s an increase of roughly four times the 0.465 percent rise in the consumer price index over the past year.
While the city’s general fund, IMRF pension fund and general assistance levies declined enough to show a total reduction of 6.9 percent, increases in public safety pension payments and the library levy more than offset those declines.
[block:dfp=mr2i]
Net of inter-fund transfers the budget calls for spending $251.5 million in 2016, compared to $230.4 million this year.
Among the areas seeing large spending increases next year are the water and sewer fund, the capital improvement program and the debt service fund.
City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz said a major uncertainty for next year is what impact the budget stalemate in Springfield will have on state aid payments to Evanston and other municipalities.
Debate on this year’s budget was minimal, with aldermen only making minor changes to the staff-proposed document.
The budget calls for adding just under two full time equivalent employees to the city’s employment roster next year.
Budget Increase
When will Evanston ever be fiscally responsible and make budgets match revenues?
Matching
Hi Leon,
The city always makes "budgets match revenue" — that is, it adopts a balanced budget.
It usually brings about the balance through a combination of cuts to or restructuring of programs and increases in taxes that boost revenue.
Perhaps you're asking that the balance be struck in a different fashion — with all cuts in programs and no increases in revenue?
— Bill
Budget
Yes, cuts in programs!
Carbon based ATM’s
They think we are bunch of carbon based ATM's.