Danville City Council Previews Budget, Tax Levy

The Danville City Council met Tuesday and previewed their budget and tax levy for the new year. While advertising an increase in expected revenue and an increase in the local EAV, the City suggested that while there will be an increase in actual cash requested, the tax rate, principally due to an projected increase in the EAV will go down. A projected increase in the EAV, or Equalized Assessed Value of property, of 8% is projected. If it is true, and if revenue increases as expected, the actual rates might decrease by 4.6%. However, the issue of increased revenues will be examined closely before the Council votes on the budget. Also, it was introduced as a late addition to the agenda, added on Friday. The projections are not yet complete but point toward increased costs for some expenses such as health insurance and pension payments. Two issues were debated in the Council discussions. First, the Library is expected to see a $214,000 cut. Not all were accepting that cut and it will be a point of potential controversy. Public comment suggested a cut was not favored as it will mean reduced staffing. Also, the care of city parks was discussed. The approximate $14 million dollar cost of Garfield Park and the pools was compared to the need to take care of Winter Park, a park shared by both the City sand School District 118. The actual use of that park is estimated to be higher than that of Garfield Park. That also lead to a discussion of unspent ARPA funds which are targeted to go to storm water improvements. Alderman Doug Ahrens, more recently elected to the Council, questioned the original plan for ARPA and said the approximate $14 million spent on Garfield Parks pool might have been better split between other needs while still improving the pool for less dollars. Other items were summarily voted on without much explanation or discussion despite a requirement of the Open Meetings Act that there be a concise explanation of each item before a vote, leaving some items such as a memorandum of agreement with Ameren, some bids awards and an ADA Paratransit Service Agreement being voted in without explanation.