Residents Raise Voices at Budget Public Hearing

Opinions at the village's public budget hearing were widely divergent, but one thing was clear: Morton Grove has to tighten its fiscal belt in the upcoming year. 

The Village of Morton Grove Board of Trustees held the open meeting for the public at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday to discuss the proposed 2011 budget and the combined 6.2 percent property tax hike for the village municipality and library budgets.

Village Finance Director Ryan Horne said the state's 'Truth in Taxation Act" requires that any budget increase more than five percent requires an open hearing.

Throughout the meeting, there was speculation about the actual dollar-amount increases with the 2011 proposed budget levy. Library Director Ben Schapiro gave a presentation on the library budget, and Horne gave a presentation on the village budget. 

The next step is for the village trustees to vote on the proposed budget on Monday, Dec. 13 at their regular meeting. 

"If it doesn't pass on Monday, then we don't have the authority to spend any funds in January 2011," said Horne. "I have no reason to believe it won't pass."

Yet, of the 30-some audience members on Thursday, a hefty handful voiced their reasons for why the budget should not be passed, with much ire directed at the proposed library budget.

"This is a fantasy budget, considering the few realities that we all know," said David Calimag, a Morton Grove resident. "Number one, the recession. Drive around our business streets and you can see stores closing. We are losing our tax base, and there is high unemployment."

Calimag referenced specifically the Morton Grove Public Library's proposed budget levy, which is 13.5 percent higher than last year's library budget levy. The library's actual budget will increase by 6.6 percent*.

The Village of Morton Grove's budget levy, if passed, will go up by 3.5 percent. 

"To even have the audacity to ask for this increase, who are we kidding?" said Calimag, of the suggested library budget and the rationale for building improvements. "Walk to other libraries, it's good for your health, and good for your heart."

Another resident, Sandra Covey, agreed with Calimag's assessment of the economic blight on Dempster Street and around Morton Grove. 

"I'll just shoot right from the hip," Covey said. "To jumpstart this village we need to start focusing on bringing revenue back to Morton Grove…I know it's the economy but it's terrifying."

Covey went on to suggest that Morton Grove businesses might cut the library a special deal, and therefore increase business in town and decrease library's budget.  

In response to complaints about the library budget, Director Schapiro emphasized the monetary restrictions of the library. 

"The village can use bonds, but we cannot," he said. "We cannot borrow money to pay for today's costs." During his presentation, Schapiro said that the library's two methods of revenue are the levy and overdue fines.

Trustee Shel Marcus acknowledged the library's situation, and said that the village also faced financial woes.

"There is no guarantee that the state will still fund the kind of revenue that we need," said Marcus. "No matter what we may say we would like to get on our budget, whether the state comes through is always a question...my concern is that we are all going through such difficult times."

"If there's any way we can shake those percentages, we need to ask," Marcus concluded.

*Clarification: The proposed budget levy has increased by 13.5 percent, while the actual proposed budget of the library has increased by 6.6 percent.