I was never a fan of DeKalb’s decision to open a fourth fire station. It’s not financially sustainable. Already we see it in this year’s budget, with $100,000 coming out of the city’s operating reserve to repair fire facilities, and pension liabilities continuing to explode. A more modest expansion would have fit financial realities better.…
Tag: compensation
DeKalb’s Transportation Fund a model for Water Fund budgeting transparency
Let’s start with a summary of the problem. City of DeKalb secretly charges its Water Fund (Water) to help compensate employees in other operational departments and divisions. Because the Water subsidies into the General Fund (GF) aren’t tracked in budgets, the expenses shown in Water budgets misrepresent the actual personnel costs of providing water to…
A return to “meaningful and understandable” budgets begins with Water Fund dependency confessions
Last spring, DeKalb’s city manager was pushing for water rate and fee increases of 3.8% for infrastructure projects such as water main replacement. In the city council agenda for April 28, 2025, he wrote, “It should be noted that the Water Fund is an enterprise fund that should cover its operating and capital expenses from…
“Time Bomb” Barnes & the First Responders
DeKalb mayor Cohen Barnes is hoping to become the Democratic candidate in this month’s primary election for Illinois House District 76 representative. In his introductory statement during a candidates’ forum, Mayor Barnes said, “We’ve hired over 20 police officers in the last year alone — and firefighters.” The statement is unusual in at least two…
Unauthorized compensation of city commissioners: the fix should be simple
City of DeKalb has been paying compensation to at least two of its advisory commissions without proper authorization. Members of the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) and the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners both receive what look like meeting per diems in the expenditure records. But it turns out the payments aren’t properly authorized…
Letter informs DeKalb County of an illegal stipend paid to a housing authority commissioner
Derek Van Buer has been filing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the housing authority since last summer, and now is summarizing concerns he’s found for the DeKalb County Board (and where applicable, HUD officials). The first letter to the county, which alleges the housing authority has failed to follow travel reimbursement policies, is…
Cindy and Ed Must Be Part of Voters’ Conversations about County Tax Referendum
***Note: This was originally published in June 2016. I am posting an updated version today, since the referendum ended up on the April 4, 2017 ballot instead of last November’s.*** The DeKalb County Health Department is trying to persuade our county board to place a referendum on the November election ballot to begin levying a…
Sycamore Versus DeKalb: Comparison of City Clerks
Once upon a time, City of Sycamore and City of DeKalb had duly elected, full-time city clerks. Sycamore still has one. DeKalb’s, however, was destroyed in 2013. Low compensation and transfer of powers to the city manager’s office have deprived us of elected clerks and clerk candidates ever since. Whatever the city thought it was…
Council on Track to Deprive Us of Another Election
On Monday, the city council discussed the compensation ordinance that will go into effect upon installation of the city’s elected officers in May. This was just the first reading. Passage is expected during the regular council meeting on October 25. Council at this point is on track to continue to deprive us of another election…
DeKalb Council Will Discuss Compensation of Elected Officials Tonight
No closer than 180 days before newly-elected city officials take office next May, the city council must, per state law, set compensation for them via ordinances. This could happen tonight, at the next regular meeting, or possibly in early November if all else fails. Compensation is set now in order to help eliminate the conflict…