Last night the Engineering budget was scrutinized. There were some good questions, I learned a thing or two, and there was much less shouting at the TV. However, I observed a fundamental error in thinking and that is the tying of salaries to permit revenues. This is one reason we got into such a mess…
Police Station Letter
An LTE sent to the Chronicle last week made it in today: To the editor: During the municipal election campaign I remarked publicly that DeKalb’s Police Facility Advisory Committee (FAC) was not allowed to consider any police station options other than a brand-new station built on the Lincoln Highway commercial site that had already been…
Water Games
They did it again. Last night at Council (CoW), while discussing the city’s financial outlook, it was reported that the Water Fund is operating at a deficit, and, whew! good thing they raised water rates or else it would be really out of control! What a crock. The Water Division is a money maker (pp.…
School Transparency Legislation
SB2270 passed the Illinois Senate last month and is now being considered by the House. So far: Requires school districts to post on their Internet website an itemized salary compensation report for every employee in the district holding an administrative certificate and working in that capacity, including the district superintendent. Sets forth what the salary…
MIA: Financial Consultants’ Report
Let’s first link you to Mac’s excellent analysis of the report from financial consultants Executive Partners, Inc. (EPI) that came out this week. You will remember that the city has paid them $60,000 for their expertise and the article answers the question of whether we’ve gotten our money’s worth. Go for the context; stay to…
City: General Fund Revenues Plunge
[Update: I ended up reworking this a little, since the MFT-electricity thing is moot.] The proposed FY2010 city budget includes not only the FY2009 budgeted amounts but also the final revenue and spending projections for the current budget year. One of the projected General Fund revenue numbers (p. 29) is truly shocking: sales tax revenues…
Visitors
Note to District 428 administrators: Much as I enjoy the uptick in readership, I’m pretty sure you should be reading the blogs on your own time and on your own equipment. TIA, A. Taxpayer
School Games
School District 428 is looking to balance its budget. Last night the board considered a 4th proposal for doing so, which included cutting $83,000 from “differential money” that is, in part, used for music and art program components. Meanwhile, here’s some data that never gets talked about at public meetings: Paul Beilfuss $222,223 Andrea Gorla…
Trib: “Your Government in Secret”
Chicago Trib today: Since 2005, more than a thousand citizens have filed complaints about public officials in Illinois who refused requests for public records, most often by completely ignoring them. A review of those complaints, along with dozens of interviews, reveals a culture of secrecy shrouding the machinery of your government. Public meetings are often…
TIF Transparency in Chicago
Credit aldermen Manny Flores and Scott Waguespack for this, which passed unanimously last week: 2-45-155 Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Sunshine Ordinance. The following TlF-related documents for each active TIF district shall be made publicly available on the City of Chicago, Department of Community Development website: 1. The ordinances establishing each TIF district, including all attachments,…