Committee starts looking at cuts

Local News

Discussion

August 27, 2009

BY JENNIFER BAILEY The Commercial-News Thu Aug 27, 2009, 09:00 PM CDT

DANVILLE — With only a month of meetings left to deadline, the Community-Wide Finance Committee started identifying a possible list of recommendations Thursday that members now will start to rank in importance for budget cuts.

But as members started talking about “non-essential” city employees remaining on the payroll and other possible cuts, City Comptroller Gayle Brandon warned that city business can’t just stop.

“All (current employees) have jobs to do,” she said. “We can’t stop.”

But committee member Wayne Haugen said every company is re-evaluating how it does business and looking at all employees’ duties. Employees are being asked to do more.

Public Works Director Doug Ahrens said “we will run the best department you provide us resources for.”

But he added, further reductions will result in service changes — whether that means with garbage and yard waste pick-ups or for example with delayed snow plowing.

Committee member Heather McKiernan also said city employees, especially union employees and all employees with their better than average health insurance benefits, must be willing to help the city out in these tough times.

Other possible issues brought up: further investigation of privatization of garbage collection and management of Harrison Park Golf Course; increasing employees’ health insurance fees; a separate library taxing district; eliminating earned time pay (eight hours of comp time a month that if unused is paid out at the end of the year); instituting furlough days; increasing the rental inspection fee; eliminating the fire department from going on medical calls or institute a per call fee; eliminating two city parks; and closing the pool.

Ahrens said if the pool is closed, the city has agreed to move the AMBUCS Sprayground to another park.

The committee is trying to come up with at least $1.5 million in cuts to help balance the city’s budget.

It’s looking at what the city cannot afford to do anymore.

Committee members also have suggested their recommendations go to the full city council and not just Mayor Scott Eisenhauer for a decision.

COMING UP

The Community-Wide Finance Committee will meet at 4 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Robert E. Jones Municipal Building, 17 W. Main St.

Text Only

Local News

Community Briefs
The Danville Lions Club will meet at noon Tuesday at the Days Hotel, 77 N. Gilbert. The topic: “Know Your Lions.”

May 28, 2012
Community Calendar
Memorial Day ceremonies at area sites — 8:30 a.m., Curtis G. Redden gravesite in Spring Hill Cemetery; 9 a.m., World War I monument; 9:30 a.m., Korean War Memorial on Hazel; 9:30 a.m., Maj. Kenneth Bailey gravesite in Spring Hill Cemetery; 9:30 a.m., Jewell Whyte family site in Spring Hill Cemetery; 9:30 a.m., at the lagoon at the VA for all service people lost at sea; 9:45 a.m., Women’s Memorial behind the Vermilion County War Museum; 10:45 a.m., all veterans’ groups gather at the Danville National Cemetery.

May 28, 2012
Tropical Storm Beryl strengthens, nears U.S. coast
Tropical Storm Beryl was wrecking some Memorial Day weekend plans on Sunday, causing shoreline campers to pack up and head inland and leading to the cancellation of some events as the storm approached the southeastern U.S.

May 27, 2012
CASA seeks volunteers
May 27, 2012
Classes transition online
May 27, 2012
Dad welcomes baby — while a world away
Like most fathers, Brandun Schweizer wanted to witness his first child’s birth. There was just one problem, however — he was thousands of miles away in Afghanistan.

May 27, 2012 2 Photos
Veterans ask people to pause
Although the Memorial Day weekend is a time for picnics and pool parties, veterans’ groups hope people pause to remember those who gave their lives in the line of duty, as well as others who have died.

May 27, 2012
Martha Stewart learns family’s roots
Television viewers have been treated to two series lately dealing with genealogy.

May 27, 2012
Haiti touches her heart
Janis Ostiguy of Danville experiences many emotions each time she visits Haiti — sadness at the poverty, happiness with the children, warmth for the people and their spirit.

May 27, 2012 3 Photos
Turtles return to race
Collected turtles are being fed fruits, meat and vegetables and will be ready to go for the 48^th Annual Turtle Races.

May 27, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Committee starts looking at cuts

Site Map

Contact Us