Alorton is an Illinois village near East St. Louis of about 3,000 people, a median household income that is roughly the same as DeKalb’s per capita income and a median home value of $47,000. Its government is being investigated by the feds for “systemic corruption.” Some village officials have been indicted. The mayor hasn’t been…
New Per Capita Debt Numbers
[Update 8:30 a.m.: Table headers edited for clarity.] You’ve seen most of this table before. I’ve updated it with FY2011 data from the new Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). [table id=49 /] Most of the overlapping increase came from DeKalb Community Unit School District 428. Mind you, these figures reflect only gross bonded debt. The…
Growth of OPEB Participation
Among its 2009 financial recommendations to the City of DeKalb, Executive Partners, Inc. warned that the costs of DeKalb’s retiree health and life insurance plan, known as Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB), would continue to outpace contributions “to infinity.” EPI recommended the city jettison the program ASAP. In confronting the continued growth of what was…
Let’s Try This Again
First I said the city clerk issues liquor licenses in DeKalb. Then I said he didn’t. The second appears to be correct BUT that does not mean the city clerk has nothing to do with the license. I visited a DeKalb establishment today and checked out the liquor license while there. Renewed in August 2011,…
New Tapa La Luna Owners Were Issued a “Conditional” Liquor License
Thanks to Mac McIntyre of DeKalb County Online for capturing video highlights of yesterday’s City of DeKalb news conference — wherein we discover that the new Tapalaluna owners were issued a “conditional” liquor license so they could get state licensing and order supplies in preparation for a Valentine’s Day opening; and that the mayor (aka…
Applying for a Liquor License in DeKalb
[Correction 2/10: It is the liquor commissioner (mayor) who issues liquor licenses, not the city clerk. See this post for more information.] If your inner entrepreneur is telling you that bar ownership in DeKalb is worthy of some capital, here are a few things you need to know about obtaining a liquor license for your…
Monmouth Steals DeKalb Police Chief
Galesburg Planet.com: The Monmouth City Council met in executive session to consider filling the position of Chief of Police then returned to the council chambers to vote 7–0 to employ William (Bill) Feithen for the position of Chief of Police at an annual salary of $75,000. In a press release following the council meeting city…
Belvidere Using New Home Rule Status to Push for Landlord Registration
Boone County Watchdog has published a proposed ordinance addressing registration of landlords of residential rentals in Belvidere. Landlords and rental properties would be registered annually at $25 per unit under the proposal. In comparison, DeKalb has a one-time registration of landlords and rental properties with a fee of $3 per unit, and from there it…
Comparison of Budgeted vs. Actual General Fund Revenues
I am playing with a new (for me) chart plug-in. (Thanks Mac.) [easychart type=”line” width=”420″ title=”City of DeKalb Projected vs. Actual GF Revenues” groupnames=”Budgeted Revenues, Actual Revenues” valuenames=”2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011″ group1values=”27393755, 28720371, 30001151, 29663013, 28587803″ group2values=”26629206, 28489576, 28983224, 28434217, 29955121″ minaxis=”25000000″] Related posts: City of DeKalb Revenue Projections Public Safety Costs & DeKalb’s…
Public Safety Costs & DeKalb’s Financial Health
In last Thursday’s post I shared some preliminary observations about the latest contract between the City of DeKalb and the firefighters’ union. Since then I’ve gotten a little feedback on it behind the scenes. The gist of the response is this: What’s the deal? Does yinn have something against well-compensated public employees? The short answer…