Elmhurst Officials Split Over Budget Cuts

ELMHURST, IL – A few Elmhurst aldermen on Monday pushed for more budget cuts beyond the already $3.6 million planned for next year.

But the majority rejected that idea.

Both sides agreed that the $3.6 million in cuts would not address a projected long-term budget deficit, with income dropping and spending rising.

Rather, a majority said they would take a "deep dive" into spending early next year during meetings of the City Council's finance committee.

"We have a fundamental problem in our general fund," said Alderwoman Noel Talluto, who heads the committee. "We need to take a deep dive and look at that more closely as to why."

Nonetheless, Alderman Jacob Hill proposed $164,000 in further reductions.

Those cuts include a $23,000 shindig for volunteers that serve on city committees, $20,000 for professional photography and $50,000 for a "sustainability" update.

Mayor Scott Levin advised against the cuts.

"I'm sorry to say I don't think this is how we do budgeting. We've never done it this way before," Mayor Scott Levin said. "I think we're at the level of detail that is not called for."

Hill disagreed.

"To your point, mayor, I think what we're seeing is a consequence of getting this budget deficit information so late," he said.

Alderman Michael Bram, the longest-serving council member, backed Hill.

"I don't know why aldermen are concerned about going line item by line item, other than the time it would consume tonight and the schedule we would prefer to keep, but don't need to keep," Bram said.

Of the 14 aldermen, only Hill, Bram and Dan Virgil voted for the package of cuts.

The council also rejected Virgil's more modest $70,000 in reductions, affecting the local trolley and grants to nonprofits.

The same three aldermen, plus Rex Irby, supported the proposal.

Next month, the council is set to vote on a $1 million increase in the property tax levy, the first major one in 15 years. That amounts to a $56 hike for a $500,000 house, officials said.

On Facebook, Bram said Tuesday the majority "sadly" did not agree to the further cuts.

"I am not saying the further cuts would have eliminated the need for a property tax levy increase, but I feel this would do two things," the alderman said. "This would say to you, my neighbors, that if we need to go without a few things or reduce some services, then this is what we need to do to keep costs and the property tax levy down."

"The other thing is that it might help slightly in future years, but wouldn’t resolve the systemic imbalance," Bram said.