President Barber and the budget, tough decisions have to be made

By Chris Johnson

Reporter

PECATONICA – With less money coming in, Village of Pecatonica residents have already been told services will be cut. With fewer dollars being used, split between the various departments, certain assumptions have to be made as the Pecatonica Committee of the Whole prepares to present its findings to the Village’s Board of Trustees during its next scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 17.

The budget was discussed, during the finance portion of the Committee of the Whole, as part of their long list of all department issues, within their schedule of activities.

Discussion on money for the various departments took greater position following the halftime break, as budgets were investigated.

Department Heads were asked to take stock of what they have and what they will have to work with in fiscal year 2015-2016.

Even if the money is budgeted for use this year, as is the case for the Public Works Department which seeks to purchase a new piece of equipment, the money can’t be spent without the Board’s approval. The expectation of the issue being brought to the Village Board can be influenced by the Committee of the Whole’s decision to present their findings.

Since the money in the current fiscal year’s budget would have allowed for the issue to be accepted and finalized, the Committee of the Whole had to determine if the Board of Trustees would need to approve the purchase.

The amount of revenue the Village of Pecatonica receives is generated, at a great percentage, based on the estimated value of property within its area.

In 2014-2015 the dollars were fewer than the year before.

In 2015-16 it is expected the dollars to be even less. However, according to Village President Dan Barber, hundreds of projects will still have to get done.

“We don’t have a lot to work with, there isn’t as much for us to use heading into next year. The Committee of the Whole talked about where we are. We just don’t have enough money to do everything we need to do. We can get a lot more things done with a little help. The voters will have a chance to help decide that on April 7.”

The Committee of the Whole will present its findings to the Board of Trustees during its next meeting on Tuesday, March 17 at 6 p.m.

With concern in place about not having enough revenue to operate projects, as they currently are, the Village of Pecatonica will be asking residents for the approval on issues relating to property tax revenue generation.

With full-time local police protection just one of the issues relating to the residents’ interests being impacted and in an effort to increase revenue to fund programs developed through Public Works, Public Safety and Finance, residents will have to decide on an increase in the corporate tax.

The April 7 ballot will present voters with two questions on the acceptance of funding; developing revenue for a more optimized operation of the Village of Pecatonica and its police department.

The Corporate Levy Tax Referendum will ask voters to approve a plan to jump from the current level of .1143 percent to .4375 percent. This would raise the amount from $38.10 per $100,000 to $145.82 per $100,000. This is an increase of $107.72 per year, per $100,000 of home value.

The second request will be for an increase in the Police Protection Levy from .0569 percent to .6 percent. This would raise the amount from $18.96 per $100,000 to $199.98 per $100,000. It is an increase of $181.02 per year, per $100,000 of home value.

That vote will be cast on Tuesday, April 7 as residents go to the poll to choose three candidates for the position of Trustee for the Village of Pecatonica.

If the corporate tax increase request does not pass, projects which could have been done using the most effective strategy would have to be adjusted, or delayed, or even not done at all.

The Village Board’s Committee of the Whole presents its final decisions and plans to the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, March 17.