City of Belvidere’s budget retreat presents limited revenue, difficult choices

 

Without doing anything, the city would face just over $1 million in deficit this year and just over $2 million the following year

[Suggestions form the retreat]:

eliminating janitorial service for city hall. Each department head would be responsible for their area and working collectively on common areas.

lay off three police department personnel and transfer $620,000 from the utility fund to pay for other police salaries.

layoffs would be two fire department personnel, and a transfer of $380,000 from the utility fund to pay for other fire salaries.

converting two building department personnel from full-time to part-time.

[Furloughs for fire and police departments]--the IAFF and the IUOE have contracts expiring in the spring 2010, the FOP’s contract doesn’t expire until 2011 and includes a wage increase of more than 3 percent for 2010. The furlough needs to be negotiated; it cannot be forced on the personnel.

Click on the following for more of the details:  The Belvidere Daily Republican. - City budget retreat presents limited revenue, difficult choices