Overtime comprised most of DeKalb PD’s excessive spending over budgeted amounts for FY2014, but another major culprit was spending in the “Commodities” category that came to roughly twice as much as the $260,000 budgeted. Commodities were clearly under-budgeted in 7 of 10 accounts in that category and in a couple cases downright unrealistically. For example,…
Category: Payment Due?
Airport Operating Deficits
The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for FY2014 is out. So far the document is only accessible as part of the December 8 council meeting agenda, but at some point will probably appear on the city’s downloads page under the Finance title. Let’s stick a toe in by first visiting the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport…
Another Jail Referendum? Really?
Déjà vu. DeKalb County Board is considering placing a proposed sales tax increase on the ballot next spring, for…an improved jail. “What I plan to do is on the county board meeting on Dec. 17 is to review where we’re at with the jail expansion and some options for where we might go, one of…
Sifting Out What’s Important to the Property Tax-Pension Funding Discussion
DeKalb city staff have come up with a proposal to raise the city’s property tax levy by 10%. Daily Chronicle reports that the council gave initial approval on Monday. Here’s how the city is presenting the recommendation: City staff want to move away from the current practice of using the general fund to pay for…
FAC Using the Faulty Street Repair Numbers Too
Last night DeKalb’s Financial Advisory Committee began the work of figuring out how to pay for the claimed need of an additional $6.6 million per year for street repairs. Unfortunately, they are still using the same faulty numbers — faulty in the ways I explained here. If the FAC is working with bad numbers, so…
Some of DeKalb’s Street Funding Woes Arise from Desire for Buildings and an IDOT Audit
The numbers are the amounts budgeted for streets combining two line items, Street Maintenance/Repairs (8632) and Street Construction/Reconstruction (8633). It does not include alleys or permanent street improvements (e.g., Taylor Street widening). Keep in mind, what’s budgeted may not always reflect what’s spent, either. [table id=84 /] Observations: The Motor Fuel Tax Fund is taking…
DeKalb Taxpayers: Ready to Pony Up for a New Convention Center?
In July 2013, the city council of DeKalb approved the DeKalb City Center plan, an update of the 2007 Downtown Revitalization Plan. One of the key components of the plan is: Leverage TIF to study the feasibility of and potentially promote the development of additional City Center traffic generators, such as a hotel/conference center, children’s…
So DeKalb Has a Streets Problem — Is TIF or a Sales Tax Hike the Answer?
This week’s number: $33 million The city’s streets could need $33 million in repairs over the next five years, but a key funding source for the work will dry up by the end of the decade. That has city leaders considering options including increasing the sales tax to generate more revenue. Of the $1.5 million…
Confronting Reality at Last? We’ll See
From the Daily Chronicle today comes “DeKalb aldermen confront budgeting issues.” During their Monday discussion of the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1, DeKalb aldermen were told the city will need to cut services or boost revenue in order to maintain operations in the coming years. Beginning July 1, alderman were told,…
If You’re Cleaning House, Why Keep it a Secret?
From the Daily Chronicle’s weekend edition: The city of DeKalb is without a finance director after Laura Pisarcik resigned the same week city Manager Anne Marie Gaura announced financial consultants would review the city’s financial policies and procedures. Ordinarily I’d applaud the sight of heads rolling for the sake of accountability. This time I can’t.…