Is there any resemblance between DeKalb’s new logo here: http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/04/28/97591321/ and the leaves on Naperville’s tree logo? http://www.naperville.il.us/ You decide!
All This Budget Input
The Chronicle notes Tuesday’s budget hearing. The city has held a series of public workshops during the past two weeks, with each one addressing individual, or in some cases several, city departments and their fiscal needs. Tuesday’s hearing will be another chance for residents to comment on the budget, City Manager Mark Biernacki said during…
EPI Letter
Appearing today in the Chronicle: To the editor: In a controversial action late last year, the city of DeKalb hired a financial consultant, Executive Partners Inc., to analyze our finances and make recommendations for putting the city on better financial footing. EPI’s evaluation, “Strategic Financial Evaluation & Planning Process,” was distributed to council members May…
Budget Workshop Open Thread 2
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