'Disingenuous' Elmhurst Budget Cut Proposed: Alderman

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst alderman on Monday referred to a proposed cut for a program benefitting senior citizens and the disabled as "disingenuous."

At a City Council meeting, Alderman Jacob Hill was speaking about the city's senior and disabled taxi subsidy program. The cut would be by nearly $30,000, bringing the program to $55,000.

In March, Hill said he and other members of a council committee approved increasing the taxi program's budget by $24,000 because of increased use.

That overage makes the proposed cut seem "a little disingenuous," Hill said.

"I'd like a little bit more clarity on why we're lowering a number that we just had to approve an overage for this year," he said.

Mayor Scott Levin said he opposed lowering the taxi budget.

"If you lower it and you run out of budget, you could just say, 'Hey, the program's done for the year,' which I really don't think is a good answer for us," the mayor said.

He said costs have increased since the taxi program started using the ride-share model, with services such as Uber.

"There may be other options on the horizon, but it's an important program for seniors," Levin said.

Hill noted the budget calls for increasing the taxi item to $85,000 in 2027.

"We're going up significantly. So what does this cut mean exactly? Does it have any meaning?" Hill asked.

City Manager Jim Grabowski said the reduction is part of the city's overall effort to cut this year's budget. He also said the city was in conversations with York and Addison townships about what they can provide for senior and disabled transportation.

Hill said that if he had known about the city's tough budget situation in March, he may not have voted for the overage, or "I would have at least seen it in its proper context."

"There was a staff recommendation to approve the overage," he said. "I don't know why that was done, considering the information that we have at hand now."

Elmhurst works with Ride DuPage on the program. Eligibility information is on the city's website.