Board members passed a resolution placing the fiscal year 2010-11 budget on file with the city clerk for public inspection for at least 10 days.
A public hearing was also set for 6:30 p.m. April 12 in the senior citizen’s room at Five Points.
City administrator Bob Morris and city staff, however, are working on a plan B for FY 2010-11, which begins May 1.
In order to alleviate some of the state’s immense debt, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has proposed cutting the percentage of state income tax given to municipalities from 10 percent to 7 percent.
Currently, 10 percent of Illinois income tax is allotted to municipalities across the state. The share each city receives of the 10 percent is based on population.
Before the recession, Washington received about $1.2 million per year.
Morris said the city lost about $225,000 of that $1.2 million because of the sluggish economy.
If Quinn’s budget proposal is passed, Washington will lose an additional $300,000.
“Hopefully, the economy will rebound and we will get the $225,000 back. But we would never get this $300,000 back... Unlike the recession, which you expect to end, this would be a permanent change for all intents and purposes,” he said at the meeting Monday night.
This potential loss is currently not reflected in next year’s budget.
Mayor Gary Manier expressed confidence in the city’s ability to weather the losses.
“$300,000 is a lot of money, but the way Bob and this council have treated money like it’s our own, I think we’ll find ways to deal with that,” he said.
Morris and Manier said the proposed cut in municipalities’ share of state income tax passes the state’s budget issues onto municipalities.
“We’ve sustained the same losses as the state. We’ve done what we needed to do to live within our means and (the state’s) proposal is to dip into municipalities’ pockets to help them solve their problems,” Morris said, adding, “It is just a proposal, but given the state of the state’s financial problems, I think we have to take this seriously.”
In other action, the council:
• authorized an intergovernmental agreement between the city and Washington Community High School for the use of a school resource officer. In exchange, District 308 will reimburse the city $54, 959.
• heard a first reading of an amendment to create a new liquor license allowing the sale of alcohol to be sold off-premise by caterers.
• heard a first reading of an agreement to authorize an agreement between the city and the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
• discussed changes to Waste Management’s yard waste services. People will now be able to subscribe to the service one month at a time. Stickers will also be available for individual bags.
