Centralia City Manager Lowell Crow will present the city council with three options to pay for needed equipment for the police and fire department in the aftermath of city residents defeating a half-cent sales tax for public safety during Tuesday’s election.
Crow says the discussion will start at Monday night’s meeting.
“We could raise property taxes, and I have a couple of proposals or maybe even re-propose another sales-tax here. It’s also going to delay the third fire truck out another year in the budget.”
Crow says they will be able to cover the first year payments on the lease-purchase agreement for the purchase of the two new fire trucks that were delivered this summer.
Money from the CARES Act being made available through the state to help with the recovery from COVID-19 will be used.
Police Chief Greg Dodson had already found money that had collected in the DUI and tow funds to pay for two new squad cars in next year’s budget.
Crow notes the city hasn’t raised its property taxes since 2009 during a time the city’s fire and police pension liability has grown by $1.2-million putting pressure on the city’s general fund. The liability is expected to grow another $130,000 in the next calendar year.
Crow also announced a balanced budget will be presented for the next calendar year. He continues to work on the elimination of a nearly $700,000 deficit that was contained in the first draft reviewed by the city council last month.
Crow reports a large part of the deficit will be wiped out by $300,000 in savings on next year’s property and worker’s compensation insurance package. Revenue projections for sales and income taxes have also been increased by the Illinois Municipal League and sales tax revenue in Centralia continues to outpace last year but is still short of the increase included in the budget.
Cuts have included a proposed new building inspector and IT director, and a reduction on planned demolitions and tree removal. Crow says some tough decisions lie ahead on city services, including the future of the outdoor Fairview Park Pool that has serious structural issues.
