Coronavirus: Burr Ridge Budget Takes Big Hit

BURR RIDGE, IL — La Grange is making few changes to its budget. Darien is holding off on street projects and other capital improvements. This week, Burr Ridge proposed major changes to its budget, including a wage freeze.

In mid-March, the Village Board took its first look at the proposed budget for the fiscal year starting May 1. The meeting was held the same day that President Donald Trump declared the coronavirus pandemic. So the local budget numbers did not take into account the economic crisis to come.

On Monday, the board was informed that its general fund income was estimated to drop by 4.1 percent, or nearly $400,000, this budget year. For the next year, it is projected to plunge nearly 11 percent, or $1 million. Most of the losses are because of drops in sales taxes and state income tax payments.

As a result, the village is proposing to delay many planned capital improvements and freeze employees' wages in the new budget year.

Trustee Anita Mital asked village officials when they expected the village financial situation to improve again, acknowledging it was a tough question to answer.

Amy Nelson, the village's assistant finance director, said officials looked at Burr Ridge's finances through the Great Recession as one of the ways to figure out the impact of the pandemic.

"We don't anticipate that we'll be at 100 percent at the end of the next fiscal year," Nelson told the board members, who were connected to the meeting remotely because of the coronavirus. "We don't even see us realizing 50 percent of sales taxes after September."

She said the village staff would regularly brief the board on the status of the budget.

Mayor Gary Grasso said the village has enough money on hand to take care of major projects.

"In a crisis situation, unlike the state of Illinois, the village of Burr Ridge does have solid reserves," he said. "The board has real options."

Trustees are expected to vote on the budget in a couple weeks.

When Village Administrator Doug Pollock began the discussion, Trustee Zach Mottl interrupted him, saying, "Are you going to lie to us today?" Mottl was referring to Pollock's recent shifting statements on whether the state was investigating a local restaurant on the payment of sales taxes.

Grasso warned Mottl, "If you keep interrupting and making accusations, I will have you muted."

When Mottl spoke again, Grasso ordered Mottl to be muted. "He continues to be abusive and insulting to everyone," the mayor said.

Read more:

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