Channahon Trustees Approve 2012-2013 Budget

After making steady cuts the past two budget years, Village Officials approved the upcoming FY 2012-13 budget with a $1.16 million surplus.  In total, Trustees approved $34.89 million in revenue and $33.73 in expenses.  The numbers have been rounded.

Trustees have been steadily making cuts over the past two years.

“Last year, we cut our expenses in the general operating budget by over half a million dollars,” Cook said.

About 14 positions in the village have been eliminated or not filled when someone left in the past two years. Additionally, department heads took furlow days.

The more than million dollar surplus, though, reflects only an excess of $47,000 in the operating fund. That was not enough for Trustee Judie Nash, who voted no.

“I just think a $47,000 surplus in the operating (fund), it calls to question why we’re are not making cuts,” she said.

Trustee Jerry Papesh suggested the board look into repealing the telecommunications tax when considering the $1.16 million surplus, but with only $47,000 surplus in the operating fund, which is where the telecommunications tax is applied, it wasn’t possible.

This year, as trustees considered budget numbers, a newly assembled citizens’ advisory committee met and gave feedback on village budget issues.

Nash said none of the suggestions they offered have been considered yet. But said the suggestions, such as the option to lease large equipment instead of buy it would be considered as those issues came up.

“A lot of these ideas will be taken up when the expenses occur,” Pena said.

Channahon Village President Joe Cook had to vote in the motion Monday night and voted to approve the budget.

 “We will be taking a look at all our expenses and our revenues as they come in,” he said.